Hydro-Québec Planned Power Outage Leaves 60,000 Customers in the Dark for Major Substation Upgrades
- Hydro-Québec cut power to approximately 60,000 customers across Québec, L’Ancienne-Lorette, and Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier starting Sunday, Sept.
- The planned blackout, which extended into Monday morning, Sept.
- Residents across the affected sectors adjusted their routines by employing generators, camping lamps, and coolers stocked with frozen water jugs, according to Le Journal de Québec.
Hydro-Québec cut power to approximately 60,000 customers across Québec, L’Ancienne-Lorette, and Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier starting Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in order to complete essential infrastructure upgrades at the Neufchâtel substation before the winter season, according to state-owned utility reports and regional coverage by La Presse and Le Journal de Québec.
Infrastructure Upgrades at Neufchâtel Substation
The planned blackout, which extended into Monday morning, Sept. 21, 2026, was scheduled to prevent a more significant equipment failure that could otherwise trigger an extended outage affecting a larger customer base, Hydro-Québec stated in official releases. Utility officials selected the Sunday evening window to minimize disruptions during a period without extreme temperatures or heavy heating and cooling demands. To safeguard the distribution network from sudden electrical surges, restoration of service was designed to occur progressively starting Monday morning, according to Le Journal de Québec. Regional emergency services and public health authorities issued preparatory safety guidance ahead of the work, focusing particularly on the safe operation of combustion appliances during extended service interruptions.
Customer Preparation and Local Impact
Residents across the affected sectors adjusted their routines by employing generators, camping lamps, and coolers stocked with frozen water jugs, according to Le Journal de Québec. Local resident Kevin Leclerc noted to Le Journal de Québec that the community has weathered major weather events like past ice storms, viewing the planned outage with calm preparation. « On a vécu le verglas, on a connu pire ! »
Other citizens, such as Christine Descheneaux, utilized backup generators for the first time while taking a philosophical approach to the temporary loss of internet connectivity, as reported by Le Journal de Québec. Traffic management teams were deployed to monitor key intersections while automated phone notifications alerted registered utility users to the schedule.