A planned outage to upgrade equipment at the Hydro One transformer station in Southside Park left approximately 14,000 customers in Woodstock and northern Oxford County without power for more than eight hours on Sunday, Oct. 18, after a line switch failed during restoration efforts.
Timeline and technical details
Hydro One scheduled the work overnight to replace aging switches and related equipment and set an expected outage window from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. The company said crews worked to restore power safely, but during restoration a line switch failed, extending the outage into the morning. Most customers reported power returned by about 9:32 a.m. Hydro One’s statement puts the restoration time at approximately 9:30 a.m. and notes the failed switch will be replaced at a later date.
- Area affected: Woodstock and northern Oxford County (Southside Park transformer station)
- Customers impacted: about 14,000 Hydro One accounts
- Scheduled window: 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. (planned)
- Actual restoration: most customers restored by about 9:30–9:32 a.m.
Local reaction and consequences
Residents took to social media to express frustration about late notice and the extended outage, noting difficulties caring for young children and infants and planning around the interruption. The Echo reported several accounts of electronic devices appearing to be damaged when power was reconnected; one reader said their internet router stopped working after hydro returned.
“Want to give us a better heads up as to when you're going to shut off our power! Especially when you go over the set hours! There are children and babies we gotta plan for! Thanks.”
Hydro One acknowledged that being without power is challenging and said it schedules planned outages during periods of lower demand to reduce impact. The utility also reiterates its customer notification process and invites customers who are not registered for outage alerts to sign up on its website.
How Hydro One responded
In a company statement, Hydro One said crews repaired the failed line switch while its control room used alternate power routes to restore customers. The utility apologised for the inconvenience and confirmed the damaged switch would be replaced at a later date. Hydro One said it makes every effort to notify affected customers in advance via automated phone calls or text messages.
| Event | Time (Oct. 18) |
|---|---|
| Planned outage began | 1 a.m. |
| Expected restoration | 7 a.m. (planned) |
| Actual restoration for most customers | Approximately 9:30–9:32 a.m. |
What residents can do
Hydro One encourages customers who are not yet enrolled in outage alerts to register for automated calls or texts at its service portal. Residents who experienced equipment damage are advised to document the damage and contact Hydro One directly to report incidents and seek guidance on next steps.
Local officials did not immediately release a statement about broader municipal impacts, and there was no information available about compensation or claims processes in the Hydro One release. Residents with specific concerns about damaged appliances or interrupted services should reach out to Hydro One’s customer service and keep records of any losses.
The extended outage serves as a reminder of the dependency on electrical infrastructure and the potential for unplanned complications during routine upgrades. Hydro One said crews completed repairs and restored service while planning to replace the failed switch in a subsequent visit.
Reporting for ZTL, this account is based on Hydro One’s statement and local reports received by community outlets. For more information or to sign up for outage alerts visit Hydro One’s customer service pages.
