Power Failures

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Hamilton: 905-522-4617

St. Catharines: 905-684-8111

Street Lights Out

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City of Hamilton: 905-546-2098

St. Catharines: 905-684-9764

On average, Horizon Utilities customers experience less than 45 minutes of power loss annually. This is one of the province’s top reliability rates. But outages happen. They can be caused by bad weather, a car hitting a hydro pole, or a construction crew cutting through an underground cable.

Our two state-of-the-art computerized control systems notify us of power outages. Our recorded telephone message will tell you where the outage is and that we are responding.

Checklist   

In the event of a power failure:

• Turn off major appliances
• If the power is out only in your home, check your fuse box or circuit breaker.
• Call Hamilton: 905-522-6611, St. Catharines 905-684-8111 to receive or provide information. Realize others are calling too. The lines will be busy. Keep calling.
  • Give us your name, address and telephone number.
  • The nature of the problem?
  • Where is the problem located?
  • How long have you been without power?
• Leave one light on so you know when the power is restored.
• Never use a barbecue indoors. Carbon monoxide emissions can cause asphyxiation.
• Turn off water to the clothes washer and dishwasher.
• A small bicycle pump can supply air to the fish tank.
• Keep an emergency kit with bottled water, flashlight and batteries, candles, holders and matches, battery-powered radio and alarm clock
• Do not open the refrigerator or freezer door while the power is off. Most foods will stay frozen for at least 12 hours, refrigerated for 16.
• Dairy products such as sour cream, milk, cream, cottage cheese and yogurt should be discarded after 4 to 6 hours.
• When power is restored plug in only the most essential appliances. If you wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting, the system has time to stabilize.

When Power is Restored

• Check that the freezer and refrigerator are working and whether food can be re-frozen.
• Dairy products should be discarded after 4 to 6 hours.
• Reset clocks, automatic timers and alarms.
• Plug in only the most essential appliances. If you wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting, the system has time to stabilize.
• Return all emergency items to their usual place.

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