Power outage in the Eastern Townships: who to call, what to check
Hydro-Québec, Hydro-Sherbrooke, Hydro-Magog or Hydro-Coaticook: the right number depends on your address, and your bill says which. Here are the official numbers and outage maps, and what is a master electrician’s job.
Power outage? Find out who to call.
Pick your municipality: we give you the right utility, its number and its live outage map. Three questions then tell you whether the problem is on the grid or at your place.
Downed wire, sparks or a burning smell: stay away, touch nothing and dial 911.
Is the mast or the wires coming to the house damaged?
Are the neighbours out too?
The whole house, or only part of it?
Answer the questions.
The result appears here as you go.
No emergency service: we call you back Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Live outages in the region
Hydro-Québec outages around Sherbrooke, on our map: affected areas, number of customers and expected restoration. Updated every 5 minutes.
Live
Hydro-Québec
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Hydro-Sherbrooke
Its outages are on its official map
Current outages
Source: Hydro-Québec open data. Approximate areas. Drag to move around once the map is zoomed in.
Hydro-Québec’s official map (new tab)Central Sherbrooke: Hydro-Sherbrooke
Hydro-Sherbrooke outages are on its own map. To report an outage: 819 821-5728.
Depending on how long the outage lasts
The official guidelines, in order of time. Detailed instructions follow below.
Right away
Check, then report
Look at the map: if the outage isn’t there, report it to your utility. Unplug electronics and keep the fridge and freezer closed.
Source: Hydro-Québec (new tab)
After 4 to 6 hours
The fridge no longer stays cold
Food in the refrigerator stays cold for about 4 to 6 hours. After an outage of more than 6 hours, you will need to sort it when power comes back.
Several hours, in cold weather
Think of your municipality
During an outage of several hours, especially in cold weather, contact your municipality: it can tell you where to get warm.
After 24 hours
The freezer
Half full, a freezer keeps food frozen for about 24 hours. Full and closed: 24 to 36 hours according to Hydro-Québec, up to 48 hours according to Québec.ca.
Source: Québec.ca, Food to keep or throw away (new tab) · Hydro-Québec (new tab)
With a generator
A break every 8 hours
Always outdoors, within its capacity, and shut off for 1 hour every 8 hours.
What size generator do you need?When power comes back
Sort the food
After an outage of more than 6 hours, sort it: throw out completely thawed perishable food that was exposed to more than 4 °C. When in doubt, throw it out.
During the outage, then when power comes back
Hydro-Québec’s instructions, in short. And what calls for a master electrician.
During the outage
Unplug electronics
Computers, TVs, chargers: it prevents surge damage when power is restored.
Turn off what was running
Walk through with a flashlight: washer, dryer, stove, portable heater, kettle. Set thermostats as low as possible.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed
Don’t unplug them. Full and closed, a freezer keeps food frozen for 24 to 36 hours.
Generator: outdoors only
Generators and fuel-burning heaters or lights give off carbon monoxide. Under Québec’s Construction Code (Chapter V, Electricity), a generator must be installed by a master electrician.
Hooking up a generator
When power comes back
Turn things back on gradually
Restart appliances a few at a time, heating included. Wait until temperature and humidity are back to normal before turning TVs, computers and microwaves back on.
Don’t walk through water
Never to reach the electrical panel.
Damaged installation?
Hydro-Québec recommends having it inspected by a master electrician. Sparks, broken or frayed wires, an unusual smell or heat: turn off the power at the panel.
Inspection after a power surgeDamage caused by the outage?
Check whether you can file a claim with Hydro-Québec.
Claims to Hydro-Québec (new tab)
William Letendre is a master electrician and a CMEQ member: exactly what Hydro-Québec recommends after damage.
Source: Hydro-Québec, “During an outage” (new tab) and “After an outage” (new tab) pages.
Tired of outages?
With a properly connected generator, the house keeps the essentials: backup heat, pump, fridge, lighting. We install the transfer switch and the outdoor power inlet, then test it with you.
What size generator do you need? Work it outReport an outage and follow the restoration
Everywhere else in the Eastern Townships
Hydro-Québec
1 800 790-2424Info-pannes online, with the outage map
Official outage pagePart of Sherbrooke
Hydro-Sherbrooke
819 821-5728Online network outage map
Official outage pageMagog (municipal network territory)
Hydro-Magog
819 843-3333Evenings: 819 843-3334. By email: hydromagope@ville.magog.qc.ca
Official outage pageCoaticook (town network)
Hydro-Coaticook
819 849-6331Emergencies outside business hours
Official outage page
Numbers and email taken from each utility’s official pages, checked from October 16 to 20, 2026.
The whole street, or just your house?
- 1
Check the neighbours
If the whole street is dark, the outage is on the grid: report it to your utility and follow the restoration on its map.
- 2
Only your house?
Open the panel. A tripped breaker can be reset once, after unplugging the circuit’s appliances. If it trips again, leave it off.
- 3
Only part of the house?
The problem is probably in your installation: a connection, a breaker or a circuit. That’s a job for an electrician.
Service mast torn off after a storm
When a tree or branch falls on the wires coming to the house, the mast, gooseneck or spool rack often gives way. According to Hydro-Québec, if you own the house, those parts are yours: the repairs are your responsibility, and the utility cannot reconnect the house until they are done.
Source: Hydro-Québec- We repair your home’s mast, meter base and service entrance.
- We coordinate the reconnection with your utility.
- If you rent, notify the owner: they arrange the repair.
Being ready for the next outage
A generator is never plugged into a house outlet with a double male cord: the power flows back into the grid and can kill a line worker. Connected through a transfer switch or a panel interlock, it keeps the circuits you choose running: heating, well, fridge, sump pump.
Need a master electrician after an outage?
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An electrical project?
We call you back the same day.
Call or text 819 570-9836. Free estimate within 24 hours, anywhere in Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships.
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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