Alectra Utilities announced that power has been restored in both Markham and Richmond Hill following extensive blackouts that affected thousands of customers on Thursday night. These outages lasted for several hours, causing significant disruptions to residents in the area.
The cause of the Richmond Hill outage was identified as equipment failure, which contributed to the prolonged loss of power. In contrast, the blackout in Markham was attributed to trees coming into contact with power lines, a scenario that is more common during severe weather conditions.
The timing of these outages was particularly unfortunate, as temperatures soared into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday, increasing discomfort for residents without air conditioning or cooling systems. The oppressive heat made the loss of power even more challenging for affected families and individuals, raising concerns about safety and well-being.
In addition to Alectra Utilities’ challenges, Hydro One reported multiple outages on the same day due to storm activity impacting various areas around Georgian Bay. The heavy thunderstorms in southern and central Ontario were exacerbating the already strained electrical infrastructure, leading to further power disruptions across the region.
Our crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to assess damage and restore power as thunderstorms move through parts of southern and central Ontario, impacting areas near Georgian Bay. Customers are encouraged to prepare for outages as the weather moves southeast this… pic.twitter.com/uhCiVbPph4
— Hydro One (@HydroOne) July 24, 2025
A Hydro One statement outlined that their crews are mobilized and working diligently to assess the damage while restoring power as safely and quickly as possible amidst the ongoing severe weather events. This commitment underscores the utility's dedication to ensuring customer safety during times of crisis.
Residents were advised to remain vigilant and stay clear of any fallen power lines during these outages. Hydro One urged that if anyone spotted a downed line, they should maintain a distance of at least 10 meters, even if the line did not appear to be live. Furthermore, they recommended reporting such incidents immediately by calling 911 and Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.
The back-to-back instances of power outages on Thursday highlight the vulnerabilities of electrical systems during extreme weather conditions, prompting further discussions on the need for infrastructure improvements to better handle such challenges in the future. Customers are encouraged to stay informed about utility updates and respond adequately to safety warnings to mitigate risks associated with electrical outages.
