Hydro-Québec is warning West Island residents to brace for a cold, dark night as a major planned power outage is set to cut electricity to tens of thousands of homes. The utility says it must replace a critical piece of equipment at the Des Sources substation in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, a repair it describes as unavoidable. The work means roughly 64,000 customers will be without power from 9 p.m. Friday until about 6 a.m. Saturday. SEE THE INTERACTIVE MAP HERE “The reason why we’re proceeding now is we became aware in recent weeks that we need to replace this piece of equipment before the winter,” explained Hydro-Québec spokesperson Cendrix Bouchard. “If we don’t proceed with the work, we’re at risk of having an outage that would not be planned and would take even longer to fix.” Although overnight temperatures are expected to dip to –1°C, Hydro-Québec says homes should retain most of their heat. “Let’s say your house is around 20 degrees when the outage starts. It should be around 15 or 16 degrees by the time we’ve done with the work,” said Bouchard. To prepare, the utility recommends preheating your home slightly above normal before 9 p.m., charging devices in advance, unplugging electronics or using a power bar to protect against surges, and keeping refrigerator doors closed to preserve food. The Quebec Red Cross is also reminding residents that outages can sometimes last longer than expected. “The best way of facing a power outage is to be prepared to have enough supplies for three days, said Sébastien Labranche, emergency management director for Quebec Red Cross. That includes water, non-perishable food and medications, as well as warm clothing, blankets, camping gear and sleeping bags, just in case indoor temperatures drop. One key safety reminder: never use barbecues or camping stoves indoors. Both Hydro-Québec and emergency officials say these preparations are useful not just for tonight, but for any winter outage, planned or otherwise.
