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Toronto Hydro-Electric System Power Outage Update

    TORONTO, Jan. 16 /CNW/ - At approximately 10 p.m., January 15th, Toronto
Hydro-Electric System was forced to cut power to its Dufferin Transformer
Station due to significant flooding.
    At 1:30 pm today, power was restored to the area bounded by:Bloor Street south to Harbord Street
    Havelock Street east to Spadina Avenue.
    St. Clair Avenue West from Lauder Street to Wychwood.As a result, power has been returned to the TTC service. Toronto Hydro
has now restored power to approximately 75 per cent of affected customers.
Crews remain on scene replacing and repairing water damaged equipment.
Unfortunately, an exact time of restoration is not available but we estimate
sometime tonight.
    Customers who remain without power are encouraged to seek shelter with
friends or family or at one of the City's warming centres.
    For power restoration updates, customers should call our Lights Out line
at 416-542-8000.Power outage tips:

    -   Turn off or unplug electronic components and motor-driven equipment,
        such as computers, fridges, furnaces and pumps.

    -   Don't open the freezer. Food will remain frozen for up to two days in
        a closed freezer cabinet, if undisturbed. Once thawed, cook food
        before refreezing. Avoid opening the fridge. Perishables, such as
        milk, should last six to eight hours, but if in doubt, throw it out.
        If power is off for more than one day in sub-zero weather, you can
        transfer food to a cooler stored in an unheated garage or balcony.
        Don't leave food out in open containers.

    -   Never use a gas stove as a room heater, and don't barbecue inside the
        garage. If a fireplace or kerosene space heater is used, open a
        window for ventilation. Otherwise, there is a real danger of death
        from carbon monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation (as an unvented
        combustion appliance consumes all the available oxygen in the room).

    -   For homes with automatic garage door openers, pull the dangling nylon
        cord to release the door for manual opening.

    -   If you have a gas-powered generator, don't run it in the garage (as
        deadly carbon monoxide fumes can seep into your home). Always refer
        to the owner's manual before setting up the generator. Improper
        installation of a generator can pose a serious electrical hazard to
        Toronto Hydro emergency personnel. Chain it to a solid object in your
        backyard to avoid theft and connect a heavy-duty outdoor extension
        cord.

    -   Listen to your emergency kit radio for updates, but if the indoor
        temperature gets too chilly, head to heated shelter.

    -   Check that the stove is off.

    -   If you were using the stove, lamps and appliances when the power went
        out, turn them off to avoid possible damage when the power is back
        on.