By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Thousands of Ayer’s Cliff and Stanstead-area residents were left in the cold after a power outage struck early Jan. 22, with plunging temperatures reported at -27°C in Fitch Bay and surrounding areas. At its peak, the outage affected 4,918 Hydro-Quebec customers, with full restoration expected at the time by day’s end, according to Hydro-Quebec spokesperson Jean-Philippe Gautier.

The power failure occurred at 5:20 a.m. due to a broken protection device at the Stanstead substation, Gautier said. “We’ve worked throughout the day to restore service, and as of now, only about 1,000 customers remain affected,” he confirmed during a call at 3:25 p.m.

Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone, speaking earlier in the day, noted that the town had set up a warming station at the town hall where residents could recharge phones and find relief. “If the outage continues longer, we’ll reassess, but Hydro indicated it should be resolved by 2 p.m.,” Stone said.

Battalion Chief Brian Wharry of the Stanstead Township Fire Department highlighted the community response in a Facebook post, praising Station 2 firefighters for checking on seniors during the frigid conditions. He also called attention to the dangers of overloading the power system, joking that electric vehicle charging may have contributed to the initial outage.

Hydro-Quebec encourages residents to take precautions during winter outages, such as draining water pipes, using antifreeze in toilets and drains, and ensuring heaters are safely shut off. More information is available on the Quebec Ministry of Public Safety website.

Residents reported power returning by mid-morning in some areas, but others remained without heat or electricity until much later, underscoring the importance of community preparedness.