Toronto power outage leaves 53,000 customers without power after flooding

Just over 53,000 customers across Toronto remain without power after a widespread outage suspected to be caused by flooding at a Hydro One transmission station on Tuesday.

• “We are currently responding to scattered outages due to suspected flooding at a Hydro One transmission station that has resulted in a widespread loss of power supply to our system,” corporate spokesperson for Toronto Hydro, Daniel McNeil, told CityNews.
• McNeil added that they are unable to provide reliable estimated times of restoration (ETR) of power.

At its peak, around 167,000 customers were without power. Power was restored to some areas affected by the outage, including Queens Quay and Humber Bay, around 3:00 p.m., but other areas aren’t expected to have power fully restored until sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Areas Affected

According to Toronto Hydro, the outages are scattered across multiple regions, including:

• Toronto
• Parkdale
• East York
• Liberty Village

An outage map available on the utility’s website shows extensive areas without power, highlighting the widespread nature of this incident. Some of these areas may not see power restored until tomorrow afternoon, causing significant disruption to daily activities.

Outage update: We’re continuing to work together with @HydroOne to respond to the outage affecting large areas across the city due to a loss of supply. A loss of supply occurs when an issue arises with Hydro One that disrupts the flow of power to Toronto Hydro customers. pic.twitter.com/CayVn7osfD

— Toronto Hydro (@TorontoHydro) July 16, 2024

Impact of Torrential Rainfall

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has been hit by torrential downpours, leading to the flooding of several highways, roads, TTC stations, and other locations. The region was under a rainfall warning, with expectations of up to 125 millimetres of rain. This severe weather has compounded the challenges faced by residents and infrastructure in Toronto.

Toronto Hydro is actively working to restore power to the affected areas, but residents and businesses should prepare for potential extended outages. Those impacted should stay informed through reliable sources and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during this time.

Mayor Olivia Chow said Tuesday the city is “massively investing in the state of repair so that there is less flooding going forward.”

Employee rights during power outage

Many Torontonians continue to work from home to some degree. The current power outage may negatively impact your ability to work remotely. Here’s what you should know:

1. Inform Your Employer: If you are unable to work due to the outage, consider letting your employer know that the flooding has prevented you from performing a significant portion or all of your duties.
2. Know Your Rights: If your employer reacts to your inability to work by terminating your employment without cause, they are required to provide you with full severance pay.
3. Understand Severance Pay: A proper severance package in Ontario can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on multiple factors such as your length of service, age, and position. Calculate the amount of severance you may be owed with the Pocket Employment Lawyer.

Talk to an employment lawyer

The experienced Toronto employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country. In addition to severance package negotiations, our team has experience securing solutions for the following employment matters:

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. stand ready to help you solve your workplace issues.

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with an employment issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.