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Power Restored to 136,000 customers - 14,000 Hydro One customers remain without power

August 7, 2006 — Hydro One confirms it has now restored power to 136,000 customers since the evening of Wednesday, August 2. Approximately 14,000 customers remained without power at midday Monday.

Eleven helicopters and more than 900 field staff from across the province, as well as an 65 additional workers on loan from other local utilities, are concentrating on restoration efforts in the most affected areas.

"Our crews continue to work flat-out and while we are making progress, we are now working in very rocky and densely treed areas; some of the toughest terrain and in some very remote places," said Myles D'Arcey, Senior Vice President, Customer Operations, Hydro One. "We are now at the most difficult stage of our restoration effort, so we will continue to deploy all available province-wide resources plus outside utility help to deal with the aftermath of this most recent storm."

Hydro One estimates that the work required to address the impact of severe, back-to-back summer storms is equal to the amount of system improvement work it would undertake in one year. The company will continue to treat emergency and storm restoration work as its highest priority, moving crews from across the province into the most impacted areas. Given the sustained pressure on its resources, the company will need to reschedule work for individual customers, including those requiring new power hook-ups.

Hydro One estimates that remote or water-access properties may not have power until Wednesday to Friday of this week.

Power restoration status in the most affected areas:

"Our crews have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our customers and local communities," said Mr. D'Arcey. "Whether it is a local church or hotel offering meals to our crews, or the cottager offering a bed for a night when no hotel rooms can be found, or even someone offering an extra chainsaw or all-terrain-vehicle to contribute to our efforts, we have been deeply moved by the bigheartedness of the people of this province. On behalf of Hydro One and all its employees I would like offer our heartfelt thanks to the people who have shown such generosity and patience during this very challenging period."

Important Safety Information

Hydro One strongly urges people to take extra caution near fallen power lines. Even if a fallen wire seems dead, it can be dangerous. People are urged to report to Hydro One the location of the fallen wires as soon as possible. Touching a vehicle that is in contact with a power line can be fatal.

Restoring Power to Customers with Customer-Owned Equipment

Hydro One advises customers that their privately-owned electrical equipment may have sustained damage in this week's storm. If you know that your customer-owned equipment is damaged, you will need to hire a qualified electrical contractor to undertake necessary repair work who will then arrange for the required ESA inspection and Hydro One reconnection to restore your power.

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.