Ontario Power Outage Preparedness Guide
for Homeowners

Ontario Power Outage Reality

Ontario has two major outage seasons:

• Winter (November–March): Ice storms are the most destructive — freezing rain coats power lines and causes them to snap. The 1998 Ice Storm left 1.4 million Canadians without power, some for over 5 weeks.
• Summer (June–August): Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes cause localized, shorter-duration outages. Heat waves also stress the grid, sometimes causing rolling brownouts.

Hydro One's average customer experiences about 1.5 sustained outages per year at the provincial level, but rural customers — especially those on long distribution lines — see significantly more frequent and longer outages.

Before an Outage: Preparedness Checklist

Do these things now, before any outage happens:

🏠 Home Protection

• ☐ Install a battery-powered CO detector near sleeping areas and on every floor — mandatory if you plan to use a generator
• ☐ Install a battery-powered smoke detector on every floor (test monthly)
• ☐ Know where your main electrical panel is and how to turn off individual circuits
• ☐ Know where your main water shutoff is (frozen pipe emergencies)
• ☐ Install a sump pump battery backup if you have a sump pump (critical in Ontario basements)
• ☐ Check that your gas fireplace or wood stove works independently of electricity
• ☐ Keep at least one manual can opener in your kitchen

⚡ Power Backup

• ☐ Choose and acquire your backup power system (calculate what you need →)
• ☐ If using a portable generator: test it monthly, keep oil changed, store it with fuel stabilizer
• ☐ Store at least 20–40 litres of gasoline in approved containers (Ontario allows up to 120L)
• ☐ Have a proper extension cord rated for your generator's output (12 AWG minimum, outdoor-rated)
• ☐ Consider a transfer switch — eliminates backfeed risk and makes generator use safer (requires ESA permit)
• ☐ Keep a portable power station charged for short outages and sensitive electronics
• ☐ Charge all devices (phones, laptops, portable batteries) when a major storm is forecast

🥶 Winter-Specific Prep

• ☐ Have at least 72 hours of food and water that doesn't require refrigeration or cooking
• ☐ Keep sleeping bags rated to -10°C for each person in the home
• ☐ Have a plan for where you'll stay if the outage is extended (warming centre, family/friends)
• ☐ Keep the minimum heat plan ready: which rooms will you close off? What's the coldest your pipes can get?
• ☐ Know your home's freeze threshold — most Ontario homes can maintain above-freezing temps indoors for 8–24 hours without heat, depending on insulation and outdoor temperature
• ☐ If you have a gas furnace: it will not run without electricity. You need backup power for the blower motor (~700W) at minimum

💧 Rural Properties: Well & Septic

• ☐ Know your well pump's wattage — this is often the highest-draw appliance on a rural property
• ☐ Have a dedicated generator circuit or properly sized portable generator for the well pump
• ☐ Store at least 20–30 litres of drinking water in case the well pump can't be powered immediately
• ☐ Keep your pressure tank in good shape — a properly pressurized tank gives you several flushes after power loss
• ☐ Understand that your septic system may also rely on electricity (pumped septic requires power)

See our dedicated guide: How to Power Your Well Pump During an Outage →

📱 Communications & Information

• ☐ Download your utility's outage app or bookmark their outage map
• ☐ Have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency broadcasts (CBC Radio is Ontario's emergency broadcaster)
• ☐ Keep a written list of emergency contacts (don't rely entirely on your phone)
• ☐ Know your municipality's warming centre locations
• ☐ Sign up for Ontario Emergency Alerts on your cell phone (already automatic via national alert system)

📋 Emergency Kit (Ontario Standard)

Keep these items accessible — not packed away in a storage room:

• Water: 4 litres per person per day, minimum 72-hour supply (12+ litres per person)
• Non-perishable food: 3+ days for everyone in the household
• Manual can opener
• Flashlights + extra batteries (or rechargeable with a charged power bank)
• First aid kit
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Extra blankets and warm clothing
• Cash in small bills (ATMs and debit may not work)
• Important documents (ID, insurance, medical records) in a waterproof container
• Pet supplies if applicable
• 7-day supply of prescription medications
• Portable phone charger (power bank), kept charged

During an Outage: What to Do

First 30 Minutes

1. Don't panic. Most Ontario outages resolve within a few hours.
2. Check if neighbours are affected — if just your home, the issue may be at your meter or panel.
3. Check your utility's outage map or call their outage line (see contacts below).
4. Turn off or unplug sensitive electronics (TVs, computers, appliances) — power surges on restoration can damage them.
5. Leave one light switch in the ON position so you'll know when power is restored.
6. Deploy backup power if needed — start generator (outdoors, 3m+ from openings), or activate battery backup.

Managing Food Safety

• A full refrigerator holds safe temperature for 4–6 hours if unopened
• A full freezer holds safe temperature for 24–48 hours if unopened (12–24 hours if half-full)
• Keep the refrigerator/freezer closed as much as possible
• If the outage will exceed these times: connect the fridge to your generator, or move frozen items outdoors in winter (below 0°C)
• When in doubt, throw it out — food poisoning risk is not worth it

Heating Your Home

Safe indoor heating options:

• Gas fireplace (most are fan-assisted but the burner works without electricity — just no blower)
• Wood-burning fireplace or wood stove
• Propane heaters rated for indoor use (e.g., Mr. Heater Buddy series) — open a window slightly for ventilation
• Generator powering your gas furnace blower (outdoor generator only)
• Add layers of clothing and use sleeping bags to stay warm without heating

Water During Rural Outages

If you're on a well and don't have generator power for the pump:

• Your pressure tank will provide a limited number of flushes — use them wisely
• Use stored water for drinking and cooking
• For toilet flushing, you can use water from a pond, pool, rain barrel, or melted snow (doesn't need to be potable)
• If you have a neighbour with power or municipal water, ask to fill containers

Protecting Pipes from Freezing

If the outage extends through a cold night and your furnace isn't running:

• Open cabinet doors under sinks (especially on exterior walls) to let house air circulate around pipes
• Allow faucets to drip — moving water is less likely to freeze
• If you're leaving the house, turn off the main water supply and drain the pipes (open the lowest faucet)
• Know where your main shutoff is — if a pipe does freeze and burst, you need to shut water off fast

After an Outage: Recovery Checklist

• ☐ Disconnect generator before utility power returns (if using extension cords)
• ☐ Check all circuit breakers — reset any that tripped
• ☐ Let major appliances restart gradually — don't turn everything on at once
• ☐ Check your refrigerator/freezer food safety (see guidelines above)
• ☐ Check your sump pump — make sure it's operational before the next rain
• ☐ Look for signs of water damage, frozen pipes, or structural issues
• ☐ Refuel and service your generator (change oil if you ran it for extended periods)
• ☐ Recharge your portable power stations and power banks
• ☐ Replenish any emergency supplies you used
• ☐ Document any damage for insurance purposes (photos + inventory)

Ontario Emergency Contacts

Outage Duration Planning Guide

Frequently Asked Questions