Hydro-Québec has announced that significant maintenance will be conducted on the Des Sources substation in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, located in Montreal’s West Island. This operation will result in a power outage affecting approximately 64,000 customers across several municipalities, including Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Dorval, L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Kirkland, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe-Claire, and Saint-Laurent.
The scheduled power interruption is set to commence at 9 p.m. on Friday and conclude at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Hydro-Québec emphasized the necessity of completing this work before winter to enhance the reliability of the power supply and mitigate the risk of equipment failure at the substation. Additionally, the maintenance aims to minimize the potential for extended power outages affecting a large customer base during the winter season.
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused, Hydro-Québec expressed regret to its customers and explained that the maintenance was strategically planned for overnight and during the weekend to minimize the impact on users. Affected individuals were notified in advance via automated phone calls about the planned service disruption, and they can stay informed by visiting Hydro-Québec’s outage information portal.
With Environment Canada forecasting sub-zero temperatures on Saturday morning, Hydro-Québec spokesperson Cendrix Bouchard advised customers that while it may be chilly during the outage, temperatures indoors should remain relatively stable. Bouchard recommended preemptively raising the indoor temperature slightly before the outage to maintain comfort levels. He also stressed the importance of using secondary heating devices outdoors, ensuring electronic devices are fully charged, and having an emergency kit readily available.
To understand more about the upcoming power outage, Hydro-Québec has provided a video where its spokesperson elaborates on the reasons behind the maintenance work. The utility company’s efforts to ensure a reliable power supply for its customers are at the forefront of this endeavor.