Canada: Widespread power outages reported in Montreal and nearby areas of Quebec province, April 25

Event

Crews are working to restore power in Montreal and other nearby areas of the Quebec province, including Laval and Monteregie, April 25. The outages occurred due to the loss of production from several turbine-generator units at the Churchill Falls power station. As of 14:00, close to 500,000 users were without power. Officials did not specify when the supply will be restored.

Temporary commercial and communications disruptions are likely during power outages; cellular and mobile services could be affected. Traffic disruptions and longer driving times are possible during these periods due to malfunctioning traffic signals. Trains may also experience delays if outages impact signaling devices or overhead wires. Power outages could also result in the temporary unavailability of essential services such as ATMs and filling stations.

Advice

Charge mobile and essential electrical devices when possible and ensure backup batteries are available. Confirm business appointments before leaving your residence or hotel if operating in the impacted area through at least early April 26. Ensure that generators are functional and refuel devices when necessary. Verify that security systems are working once power is restored.