Squirrel behind power outage?

subscribe

A squirrel that crawled into a hydro substation in the downtown core may have caused a power outage at about 11 a.m. September 19.

Toronto Hydro doesn't know if it was the squirrel or a piece of defective equipment that caused a short in the system.

A dead squirrel, apparently electrocuted, was found in the substation at Wellington and John Sts. this morning.

The area west of Yonge St. to Spadina Ave. and from Queen St. south to the lake was affected.

Some businesses and residents lost power and some traffic problems were reported. The power was disrupted for just under two hours.

"Aside from storms, animal contacts do cause a lot of outages," Toronto Hydro spokesperson Tanya Bruckmueller said. "Less in the downtown area," she added. "It's more common on overhead lines in the suburban areas."

Related News

quebec-hit-by-widespread-power-outages-following-severe-windstorm

Quebec Hit by Widespread Power Outages Following Severe Windstorm

MONTREAL - A powerful windstorm swept across Quebec on April 29, 2025, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity and causing significant damage to infrastructure. The storm's intensity disrupted daily life, leading to widespread power outages, fallen trees, and transportation delays.

Storm's Impact

The windstorm, characterized by gusts exceeding 100 km/h, struck various regions of Quebec, including Montreal and its surrounding areas. Hydro-Québec reported extensive power outages affecting numerous customers. The storm's ferocity led to the uprooting of trees, downing of power lines, and significant damage to buildings and vehicles.

Response and Recovery Efforts

In the aftermath, emergency services…

READ MORE
renewable power fuel cell

New fuel cell could help fix the renewable energy storage problem

READ MORE

RBC agrees to buy electricity from new southern Alberta solar power farm project

READ MORE

west virgina dam

Lawmakers question FERC licensing process for dams in West Virginia

READ MORE

wind power

BNEF Report: Wind and Solar Will Provide 50% of Electricity in 2050

READ MORE