Power restored in Toronto after crane hits transmission line
Power has been restored in Toronto's downtown core after an hours-long outage caused major disruptions in the city Thursday.
Hydro One confirmed the restoration around 8 p.m., saying that some 10,000 residents and businesses who had been without power for most of the afternoon and evening now have electricity.
“Safety is always our top priority. We know this power outage has made today exceptionally difficult for many of you, and we appreciate your patience,” David Lebeter, chief operating officer of Hydro One, said in a statement.
“We had all available resources helping to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. I want to thank all of those affected by this outage for their patience and Toronto Fire and Toronto Hydro for their collaboration.”
Officials said the outage was caused by a large crane that struck a high-voltage transmission line earlier in the day.
In a statement, officials confirmed that a barge moving a crane in the upright position ran into the lines in the Port Lands area. This in turn caused a ripple effect, resulting in damage to equipment at a power station near The Esplanade and Lower Sherbourne Street.
"In the coming days, crews will continue work on the lines damaged by the crane."
The site of a collision between a barge carrying a crane and power lines, in Toronto, on Thursday, August 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Several blocks within the Financial District and the area of Yonge and Dundas streets, including Yonge-Dundas Square itself, lost power just after 12:30 p.m.
The big screens that usually display advertisements in that area were also down.
Other areas affected by the outage included the Toronto police headquarters, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto City Hall, and the Eaton Centre, which was forced to partially close at one point but has since reopened.
Shoppers are shown standing outside the Eaton Centre during a massive power outage in downtown Toronto on Thursday.
Toronto Transportation Services said the outage spanned at least a four-block radius.
Toronto Hydro's outage map showed the areas within College Street to the Gardiner Expressway and between the Bayview Extension and University Avenue were without power.
- LIVE LOOK: Toronto Hydro outage map
A map showing power outages in Toronto is seen in this image. (Toronto Hydro)
Toronto Hydro told CP24 earlier in the day that a large crane in the city’s Port Land’s neighbourhood had struck a high-voltage transmission line, though it was unclear at that time if that was the cause of the outage.
A crane that struck a high-voltage transmission line in downtown Toronto on Thursday August 11, 2022. (Twitter/Hydro One)
In a follow up tweet, Hydro One -- which had been working alongside the city’s power utility throughout the outage -- all but confirmed the impact of the crane was the source of the outage with images attached of the “transmission circuit that's been affected.”
It’s unclear how the crane was able to make contact with the high-voltage line that left so much of the downtown core without electricity.
TORONTO LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO OUTAGE
Officials with the City of Toronto said they have launched a full investigation into the downtown outage.
In a statement, officials said the outage may have been caused by a subcontractor to Southland-Astaldi Joint Venture (SAJV), a contractor for the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant outfall project.
"An investigation is currently underway after a barge with a crane came into contact with overhead Hydro One wires," the city said. "The incident occurred away from the construction sites while the barge was in transit within the Port of Toronto water ways."
The city said it has also requested a full report from SAJV in order "to understand what happened and what needs to be done to ensure this does not happen again."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6964632.1721072503!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE Trump receives enough delegate votes to officially be Republicans' nominee
The top of Republicans’ presidential ticket came together suddenly Monday, as Donald Trump swept a majority of votes from national convention delegates and announced Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate.
Donald Trump announces Ohio Sen. JD Vance as VP pick
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced on his Truth Social Network that Ohio Sen. JD Vance will be his vice presidential pick.
DEVELOPING Motive of man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump remains elusive
Former U.S. president Donald Trump called for unity and resilience after an attempt on his life injected fresh uncertainty into an already tumultuous presidential campaign, while President Joe Biden implored Americans to 'cool it down' in the final stretch and 'resolve our differences at the ballot box.'
Who is JD Vance? Things to know about Donald Trump's pick for vice president
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday chose Sen. JD Vance of Ohio to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House.
The biggest questions the U.S. Secret Service will have to answer, according to a former special agent in charge
A former U.S. Secret Service agent says those involved in Donald Trump's security detail will have some questions to answer following an assassination attempt.
Trucker who caused Broncos crash applies to have permanent resident status returned
The truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash has applied to have his permanent resident status returned.
Sask. TikTok star Bella Brave dies after latest hospitalization
Sask. TikTok star "Be Brave" Bella Thomson has died. She was 10-years-old.
What to expect from the 2024 Republican National Convention, just days after the Trump rally shooting
The Republican party kicks off its convention to pick its presidential nominee in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, just two days after former U.S. president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. Here's CTVNews.ca's guide on what to expect.
Corus Entertainment says ongoing job cuts will amount to 25% of full-time positions
Corus Entertainment Inc. says it expects to have slashed 25 per cent of its full-time workforce by the end of next month compared with the beginning of its 2023 fiscal year, as the company continues to "aggressively cut costs."