Seasonal Residents

Do you live at your seasonal property throughout the year? You may qualify for lower delivery charges. PLEASE CONTACT US AT 1-888-664-9376.

Are you thinking of doing any sort of project at your cottage that involves digging in or around your shoreline? If so, be aware of submarine cables. Learn more.

Seasonal Residents

Do you own a cottage, chalet, or camp? Learn more about your electricity service here.

News & Alerts

Get information about seasonal rates and safety issues.

Seasonal rates: how do we define seasonal residents?

The Seasonal Residential customer classification is defined as any residential service not meeting the Residential Year-round criteria. It includes dwellings such as cottages, chalets, and camps. If you are not quite sure if your home classifies as seasonal, check to see if it meets the criteria of a year-round residential home here or find out from your bill.

Not sure where to look?

View and understand where to find out on your bill.

Important Safety Message: Digging on Your Property

Did you know that Hydro One equipment is found not only on land but in lakes and rivers as well? Are you thinking of starting any sort of project at your cottage that involves digging in and around your shoreline? This could include installing a new dock, building boathouse foundations or performing dredging in the water. If so, it is important that you are aware of any submarine cables in your area.

Image of trees Image of Warning sign

What's a submarine cable?

Submarine cables are submersed high voltage underwater electrical cables used to bring power to your shoreline located across a body of water. These cables often run in and out of the water up onto the shoreline feeding into green pad-mounted equipment. This equipment's main function is to step down the voltage to bring service to your cottage or residence.

Each year Hydro One responds to significant outages that are a result of contact damage to submarine cables. Severing or making contact with any of Hydro One’s submarine cables may not only cause a power outage to you and your neighbours, but it may also result in costly repairs or injuries. Left undisturbed, these cables are safe in the water; however, damage to the cable could have very serious consequences. When you plan ahead, you avoid potential power loss, damage liability and serious personal injury. Before performing any work in and around the shoreline be sure to contact Ontario One Call and clearly indicate where you plan on working. This service is available 24/7 through their website OntarioOneCall.ca or by calling 1-800-400-2255. You will receive information regarding the location of any submarine cables in and around the shoreline that may be present in your proposed work area.

Hydro One reminds customers and the community to keep safe distances away from our equipment and our crews while working. For more safety tips, reminders and what to do in the case of a contact, outage or emergency, check out our Power Outages & Safety section.

Notice: Seasonal Road Restrictions

Please be advised of possible seasonal road restrictions that could delay scheduling your connection if we are unable to travel to your property. The Ministry of Transportation along with townships and municipalities may have half-load road restrictions by-laws in place. These road restrictions may be in place for March and April in Southern Ontario and for March, April and May in Northern Ontario. It is possible these restrictions may be extended at your township/municipality’s discretion.

If reduced load restrictions are in effect in your township/municipality, no commercial vehicle or trailer above a weight per axle may be used on selected roads during this period to prevent damage to roads.

How do I know if I'm affected? Any Hydro One customer affected by these road restrictions will be contacted directly by mail.

Seasonal rate class is being eliminated

Learn more

When I close my cottage for the season, I will...

Keep Power On Turn Power Off Bring a Checklist

Follow these steps if you're keeping the power on:

1. Empty the fridge

Unplug the refrigerator from the outlet. Empty all the food, clean surfaces with bleach or disinfectant, and clear out the freezer. Prop open the fridge and freezer doors to allow airflow, and leave a box of baking soda to prevent odours. If there’s ice build-up in the freezer, lay down a towel to absorb the water as it melts.

2. Turn off the water

Switch off the water pump and hot water heater. Then, drain the water tank. Next, drain all the pipes to prevent freezing, including the plumbing, washing machine, and dishwasher. Open the taps on upper levels to prevent air lock in the pipes. Finally, pour non-toxic antifreeze into the areas you can’t drain, such as plumbing traps, to reduce the risk of bursting pipes.

3. Turn off selected breakers

Figure out which mechanical systems you need to keep running through the winter — and which you don’t. On the electrical panel, identify the secondary or “branch” circuit breaker for each appliance or mechanical system you don’t need, and turn it off on at the source.

4. Unplug your appliances

Since you’re leaving the main circuit breaker on, you’ll want to avoid phantom power. Identify light fixtures and smaller appliances — such as lamps, coffee makers, toasters, powerbars or other devices that don’t have a dedicated circuit breaker — and unplug them from their outlets.

5. Check your heaters

If you have space heaters or electric baseboards, you don’t want them running while you’re away. Cold temperatures can often trigger such heaters to turn on automatically when temperatures drop — a definite fire hazard. Turn off the power supply on each unit.

6. Leave the main breaker

Be sure to leave the main circuit breaker in the “on” position. Double check that the only branch circuits left “on” are for mechanical systems that you want to keep running through the winter.

7. Monitor your electricity use

Take advantage of our online tools to monitor your seasonal property. Sign up for outage alerts to receive a notice of a power outage — via text or email — at the cottage. Log in to myAccount to view your electricity use — you’ll see if there’s been a service disruption or sudden increase in power use.

8. Troubleshoot your trees

Downed trees account for almost one-third of power outages — make sure your tree isn’t the culprit! Trim any branches that are less than 3 metres from an overhead power line, or hire a certified contractor. Request a Temporary Disconnect first, for the safely of the person trimming your trees. If the line is on Hydro One property, call us at 1-888-664-9376 or log in to myAccount to request tree trimming.

Download the full checklist

Follow these steps if you're shutting the power off:

1. Empty the fridge

Unplug the refrigerator from the outlet. Empty all the food, clean surfaces with bleach or disinfectant, and clear out the freezer. Prop open the fridge and freezer doors to allow airflow, and leave a box of baking soda to prevent odours. If there’s ice build-up in the freezer, lay down a towel to absorb the water as it melts.

2. Turn off the water

Switch off the water pump and hot water heater. Then, drain the water tank. Next, drain all the pipes to prevent freezing, including the plumbing, washing machine, and dishwasher. Open the taps on upper levels to prevent air lock in the pipes. Finally, pour non-toxic antifreeze into the areas you can’t drain, such as plumbing traps, to reduce the risk of bursting pipes.

3. Switch off the main breaker

Head to the electrical panel and switch off the secondary or “branch” circuit breakers one at a time. Start with those that power big appliances, and turn off the main circuit breaker last. Don’t leave electrical wires or cords exposed: if it freezes, cracks or gets chewed, it could spark a fire or give you a shock come next spring.

4. Troubleshoot your trees

Downed trees account for almost one-third of power outages — make sure your tree isn’t the culprit! Trim any branches that are less than 3 metres from an overhead power line, or hire a certified contractor. Request a Temporary Disconnect first, for the safely of the person trimming your trees. If the line is on Hydro One property, call us at 1-888-664-9376 or log in to myAccount to request tree trimming.

Download the full checklist

Cottage Opening Tips

1. Check the powerlines

Start by walking the property and taking note of any changes. Check your hydro poles and powerlines for damage. Note any fallen branches or trees. If you see a downed or damaged powerline, keep back at least 10 metres and call Hydro One’s emergency line immediately at 1-800-434-1235. If your property experienced spring flooding, consult our Flood Safety page. Any time water makes contact with electrical systems, there's a heightened risk of electric shock and serious injury. Take steps to get your power reconnected safely.

If everything’s intact, take proactive steps to prevent outages or hazards: hire a qualified contractor to prune trees that are too close to powerlines. If the line is on Hydro One property, request a Tree Trimming service and we’ll send a qualified team to assess the issue.

Need a temporary disconnect?

To help keep you safe, Hydro One will disconnect your power supply free of charge once a year. If you’re planning landscaping or maintenance near powerlines, or working on electrical equipment, contact us to schedule a Temporary Disconnect or submit a Service Request through myAccount.

2. Inspect the exterior

Circle the cottage from outside to identify any damage or vandalism over the winter. Check if animals have torn window screens or created holes in the roof or soffits. Inspect your electricity meter and report any damage to Hydro One at 1-888-664-9376. Check visible wiring to outdoor fixtures, water pumps and other equipment. If wiring is damaged, remove the fuse to that circuit or turn off the circuit breaker, and call a certified electrician. If the area experienced flooding, look for water damage and have an electrician inspect your electrical equipment. Finally, ensure all railings, steps and footings are secure, as heat-and-freeze cycles can cause the ground to heave or shift.

3. Secure the interior

You may be excited to be back, but it’s best to enter the cottage with caution. Inspect each room for signs of mice or other critters, especially the kitchen. If you find animal waste, treat it like a health hazard and call a pest control company. Check appliance cords and electrical plugs for any damage from gnawing animals. Never use appliances or light fixtures with damaged cords; replace the cords first.

4. Power up safely

Before turning to your electrical panel, make sure you’ve inspected all interior wiring and electrical outlets. If any wiring has been compromised or destroyed, turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse to that circuit. Then, call an electrician to arrange for repairs. If your electrical panel has fuses, ensure they’re screwed in tightly. Do not use fuses higher than 15 amps, and have some spares on hand.

If everything’s intact and you’re ready to power up the cottage, start by looking at the secondary or “branch” circuits. Make sure they’re all switched off. Turn on the main circuit breaker. Next, energize each secondary circuit one at a time – this helps to protect against a fault to your main breaker. Finally, go from room to room checking for flickering lights, burning smells or sparking fixtures. If you find any, have them addressed immediately by a certified electrician.

5. Turn on the taps

Once the power is safely on, the next step is to turn on your water system. Ensure the drain valve at the bottom of your water tank is closed. Open the hot water tap at any sink, making sure to choose a tap that’s at a higher level than the water tank. Open the cold water shut-off to the tank. Leave the hot water tap opened until water starts running. Turn on the power to the water heater at the fuse box or electrical panel. Finally, check the tank and drain the valve for leaks.

6. Get comfortable

Now that you have electricity and water, you can start to make yourself comfortable. A home needs air circulation, so you’ll want to ventilate your space. Open the windows and get the air moving. Musty smells are a sign of trapped moisture. Address mildew or mold issues by ventilating and drying out the cottage. Test your heating system – whether it’s baseboard heaters, forced air, radiators or boilers – to ensure it’s functioning properly. If you have a forced-air system, it’s a great time to change the air filter.

7. Be prepared

Practise fire safety and emergency preparedness. Ensure your fire extinguishers are fully charged. It’s a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. In case of a power outage, have an emergency kit ready: bottled water, dry foods, flashlight and phone charger. For updates on power outages, get our outage tools or call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.

Download the full checklist

Outage information at your fingertips

Get updates every ten minutes and track local weather with the Storm Centre online map and Hydro One mobile app.

News and Alerts for Seasonal Customers

Important Safety Message:
Did you know that Hydro One equipment is found not only on land but in lakes and rivers as well? Are you thinking of starting any sort of project at your cottage this summer that involves digging in and around your shoreline? This could include installing a new dock, building boathouse foundations or performing dredging in the water. If so, it is important that you are aware of any submarine cables in your area.

Image of trees Image of Warning sign
What's a submarine cable?
Submarine cables are submersed high voltage underwater electrical cables used to bring power to your shoreline located across a body of water. These cables often run in and out of the water up onto the shoreline feeding into green pad-mounted equipment. This equipment's main function is to step down the voltage to bring service to your cottage or residence.

Each year Hydro One responds to significant outages that are a result of contact damage to submarine cables. Severing or making contact with any of Hydro One’s submarine cables may not only cause a power outage to you and your neighbours, but it may also result in costly repairs or injuries. Left undisturbed, these cables are safe in the water; however, damage to the cable could have very serious consequences. When you plan ahead, you avoid potential power loss, damage liability and serious personal injury. Before performing any work in and around the shoreline be sure to contact Ontario One Call and clearly indicate where you plan on working. This service is available 24/7 through their website OntarioOneCall.ca or by calling 1-800-400-2255. You will receive information regarding the location of any submarine cables in and around the shoreline that may be present in your proposed work area.

Hydro One reminds customers and the community to keep safe distances away from our equipment and our crews while working. For more safety tips, reminders and what to do in the case of a contact, outage or emergency, check out our Power Outages & Safety section.

Seasonal Road Restrictions Notice:
Please be advised of possible seasonal road restrictions that could delay scheduling your connection if we are unable to travel to your property. The Ministry of Transportation along with townships and municipalities may have half-load road restrictions by-laws in place. These road restrictions may be in place for March and April in Southern Ontario and for March, April and May in Northern Ontario. It is possible these restrictions may be extended at your township/municipality’s discretion.

If reduced load restrictions are in effect in your township/municipality, no commercial vehicle or trailer above a weight per axle may be used on selected roads during this period to prevent damage to roads.

How do I know if I'm affected? Any Hydro One customer affected by these road restrictions will be contacted directly by mail.

Do you live at your seasonal property throughout the year? You may qualify for lower delivery charges. PLEASE CONTACT US AT 1-888-664-9376.

Are you thinking of doing any sort of project at your cottage that involves digging in or around your shoreline? If so, be aware of submarine cables. Learn more.