You get a notification about a power outage at your home. But, it’s nice out, you don’t see any Hydro‑Québec workers around and you didn’t get advance notice. When you click on the notification to get more information, you see “Protection of public safety” in the outage tracker. What exactly is going on?
What does “Protection of public safety” mean?
There are many different situations requiring an emergency service interruption: an out‑of‑control building fire, a suspected gas leak, a car accident involving a utility pole, imminent flooding, etc.
Even before the public is informed of a situation, emergency services are already hard at work to assess the risks. Although electricity‑related hazards are not always visible, they are nevertheless very real. That’s why in certain situations, a clear request is made to Hydro Québec to cut power immediately as a security measure. This service interruption is required so that crews can carry out their work safely.
“Protection of public safety” appears in the outage tracker when emergency services request that the power be cut in order to protect the public and all emergency responders.
Protecting the public requires close coordination between organizations
In an emergency situation, coordination between emergency responders is key for ensuring public safety.
Each crew has its own role: The fire department identifies the risks and manages operations, the police department secures the perimeter and Hydro Québec crews intervene quickly to cut the power supply in the affected area.
For instance, during a flood, a service interruption can be carried out as a preventative measure to avoid the risk of electrocution, among other things, in the affected areas.
The objective is always the same—to protect lives.
Did you know?
Hydro‑Québec’s community relations teams work closely with municipalities and emergency services. Thanks to their close ties with emergency measures coordinators, they can support municipalities by providing the information they need to make decisions during critical situations.
An outage, even when everything seems fine
During a service interruption at the request of emergency services:
- The outage is voluntary.
- It is requested by the authorities.
- It is ordered as a precaution.
In other words, the service interruption is not due to a power grid failure. Generally, the grid is operational and it could technically continue to supply customers with electricity.
When will power be restored?
Hydro‑Québec cannot restore power until its field crews and emergency services deem the situation to be completely safe. The time at which power is restored can depend on when:
- the fire is extinguished;
- the situation in the affected area is stabilized;
- all invisible risks have been eliminated.
In the outage tracker, the duration of the service interruption is often indicated as being unknown. Although this can be frustrating, it nevertheless reflects the simple reality that ensuring everyone’s safety can take time.
The decision to cutting power is never taken lightly. However, in certain situations, it’s the best way to prevent danger. Behind every “Protection of public safety” message hides a core, unchanging principle: safety first!
