Power Outages Following Freezing Rainstorm
A significant hydro one outage has impacted Prescott and Russell, Ontario, following a freezing rainstorm that struck the region on March 11, 2026. The storm led to widespread power outages, affecting thousands of residents.
At approximately 2:30 PM on March 11, 369 Hydro One customers in Rockland were reported to be without electricity. The situation worsened as the day progressed, with the number of affected customers rising to 2,677 by 7:30 PM, particularly in areas such as Wendover, Plantagenet, Riceville, and Fournier.
By 11 PM on the same day, efforts to restore power had reduced the number of Hydro One customers without service to 175. However, as of 2 PM on March 12, only 20 customers were still affected, indicating a rapid recovery.
Despite the improvements, more than 11,000 Hydro One customers remained without power as of 1 PM on March 12, primarily in the Bancroft area. This situation has prompted a precautionary boil water advisory for approximately 77,000 residents in part of the Gatineau sector after a treatment plant lost power.
In addition to the power outages, all western Quebec schools were closed on March 11 due to the storm’s impact. Hydro-Québec also reported that around 30,000 of its customers were without power earlier on March 12.
The ice storm was less severe than originally projected, but it still caused significant disruptions in the region. Restoration efforts are ongoing as utility companies work to bring power back to all affected customers.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the damage and the timeline for complete restoration of services. Local officials are monitoring the situation closely and providing updates as they become available.
