What Causes Power Outages in Toronto?

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Power outages are common in Canada, and busy cities like Toronto are no exception. Severe weather, aging infrastructure, and other factors often disrupt electricity, impacting homes and businesses throughout our city.

Understanding the causes of these blackouts and taking the proper precautions before, during, and after the electricity returns can help minimize their negative impacts while also keeping everyone and their homes and equipment safe.

Let’s get started.

What Causes Most Power Outages in Canada?

Here are the most common reasons why electrical outages happen.

Severe Weather

Severe weather is the number one cause of power outages almost everywhere, certainly in Toronto. High winds, lightning, and winter storms often knock trees or large branches down onto powerlines and other equipment, damaging them and causing outages until the trees can be removed and the equipment repaired.

However, summer outages also happen when rain and flooding damage overhead and underground equipment. Another common problem in summer is the increased demand for electricity to run air conditioners. During a heat wave, that extra strain on the grid can also cause blackouts.

Equipment Failure

The second most common cause of blackouts is equipment failure. Aging infrastructure is a common problem in Toronto since about one-third of our equipment is near its end of life. The complexity of electrical equipment, new or old, can also cause occasional breakdowns and outages.

Accidents

Vehicles or construction-related accidents that damage poles or overhead lines often cause localized blackouts. Construction crews sometimes also accidentally hit buried lines when excavating.

Animals and Trees

Animals like squirrels, birds, or raccoons sometimes interfere with equipment. Trees that are not maintained and grow too close to the lines can also cause blackouts.

Scheduled Outages

Sometimes, outages are purposely scheduled so crews can safely work on equipment to repair damage. Scheduled outages also happen when maintenance or upgrades need to be done. However, those are usually planned more in advance, allowing customers to be notified beforehand so they can prepare.

What to Do During a Power Outage

When your electricity goes out, first identify the problem. Most often, your electricity shuts off simply from a tripped breaker due to an overload. In this case, unplug whatever overloaded it, then reset the Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI), also known as a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) switch.

Next, check the breakers in your panel box, find the tripped breaker and firmly flip it fully “off” and back “on” again. If it trips again, don’t reset it, as there could be a serious electrical problem. In that case, call a qualified electrician.

If your whole house is out, ensure your main circuit breaker hasn’t been tripped. If it has, the switch will be halfway between the “on” and “off” positions. If you have checked all your breakers and that isn’t the issue, check to see if the whole neighbourhood is affected.

If your neighbourhood is experiencing a blackout, follow these suggestions to keep you, your family, and your property safe during the blackout.

If your neighbourhood is out, report the outage online or by calling 416-542-8000.
Turn on your backup electricity source. You can use a traditional fossil-fuel generator, but these can never be brought indoors for safety reasons. Similarly, never use BBQs or propane heaters inside since the carbon monoxide they produce can be fatal. This is why EcoFlow Portable Power Stations are the best home backup solution. In fact, the EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators use no fossil fuels, generate no toxic byproducts, and are perfectly safe for use indoors. The EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max + 220W Portable Solar Panel has 2.048 kWh of energy, plenty enough to run an electric heater to keep your family warm in winter. The portable solar panel has an impressive 25% conversion efficiency so that you can recharge it fast during extended blackouts.
During storms, secure windows, doors, and outdoor furniture and equipment.
Locate your emergency kit, which should have lights, food, water, and a first aid kit.
Use a flashlight rather than candles to prevent the risk of fire.
Unplug appliances and electronics to protect them from surges when the electricity is restored.
If the outage is temporary, keep the fridge and freezer closed to retain the cold temperatures. For extended outages, pack perishable foods in a cooler with ice.
Discard any thawed food that has sat at over four °C for more than two hours.
Keep taps slightly running to prevent pipes from freezing.
Don’t use a gas stove as a heat source.
Don’t stand in flooded basements or buildings to prevent shock when the electrical returns.
In case of a flood and outage, turn off the main water where it enters your home. Then, open up all taps and flush toilets to drain the system so the pipes won’t freeze or get damaged. Note that not all hot water tanks need to be drained, so look up your model and read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Always stay at least 10m (32ft) away from downed powerlines. Report them immediately to Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000.

What Should You Do After a Power Outage?

Once your electricity comes back on, here is what you should do:

Report damaged trees or fallen branches on city-owned property to 311.
Hire a licensed arborist if a tree is down on your property near a powerline.
Gradually turn essential appliances back on one at a time. Wait 15 minutes before reconnecting electronics to ensure the system has stabilized.
Turn off your EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Station. Once the system has stabilized, you can recharge your battery using an AC wall plug. Alternatively, if you have something like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel, simply plug in the solar panels and recharge them when the sun shines.
Wait to run hot water until your tank is full to avoid damaging the heating elements.
Check the basement for flooding. Don’t go near standing water. If your basement is flooded, call 416-542-8000 to disconnect your electricity to prevent electrical shock.
Don’t use appliances that have been flooded without having them checked and cleaned by a qualified electrician.
Reset any electric clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
Replace any items you used from your emergency kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Root Cause of Power Outage?

The root cause of an outage is a loss of power supply somewhere between the source of the electricity, the transmission lines, the distribution lines, and the homes and businesses connected to the grid.

What Is the Most Likely Cause of a Power Outage?

Severe weather is the most likely cause of a power outage, causing as much as 80% of all outages. It could be wind, thunderstorms, ice storms, and heavy rain, which damage equipment, usually from falling trees or lightning strikes.

When Was the Last Major Power Outage in Toronto?

The most recent major power outage in Toronto was on July 16, 2024. It was caused by torrential rainfall, which caused flash flooding, leading to outages, traffic disruptions, and disrupted airlines.

Final Thoughts

In Toronto, power outages aren’t something that might happen; they most certainly will. They’re mostly caused by severe winter weather and equipment failure due to aging infrastructure. You can keep your household safe by taking the proper steps before, during, and after an outage.

Being prepared with backup energy solutions, such as EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators, can help you stay safe and comfortable through blackouts with few interruptions to your daily life.