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Hydro One restores power to 45,000 customers

July 18, 2006, 12:00 noon — Hydro One's efforts to repair damage caused by yesterday's severe summer storm have resulted in power restoration to approximately 45,000 customers. Approximately 125,000 Hydro One customers remain without power at midday today.

High winds, hundreds of downed trees and lightning caused substantial damage to lines, poles and other hydro equipment. While the weather has stabilized, Hydro One estimates that due to size of the storm path and its widespread damage, complete power restoration could take as long as three days in the hardest hit areas.

Other utilities across the province are aiding in the Hydro One's restoration efforts, including: Westario Power, Elk Power, Essex Power, Enwin Power, Kitchener-Wilmot, Waterloo North, Centre Wellington, Orangeville Hydro, Guelph Hydro, Brant Hydro, Norfolk Hydro, Veridian, Newmarket Hydro, Kingston Hydro. These crews will aid in restoration efforts and respond to Hydro One emergency calls.

In addition to seeing help from other utilities Hydro One has contracted additional helicopters. Hydro One workers are being dispatched to the areas with the heaviest damage so repairs can be undertaken as quickly as possible.

"Hydro One has mobilized and deployed all available lines and forestry crews in the affected areas and is working to restore power in the hardest hit communities," said Myles D'Arcey, Senior Vice President, Customer Operations. "We're making some progress and other utilities have kindly offered their assistance to help us with our power restoration efforts. We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this challenging period and will continue to provide updates regarding our restoration efforts."

To aid in the restoration of a reliable supply of electricity, customers are asked to turn off all major appliances. The public is advised to stay away from downed power lines.

For the most recent information on power outages go to www.HydroOneNetworks.com.

Hydro One owns and operates Ontario's 28,400 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 kilometre low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.2 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Ontario Government.

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For more information and to make arrangements for photography, contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our Web site is www.HydroOne.com.