Significant Power Outages Across Quebec
On March 11, 2026, Hydro-Québec reported that over 102,000 households were without electricity due to severe freezing rain. The Montérégie region was the hardest hit, with more than 46,000 addresses experiencing outages.
In addition to Montérégie, approximately 14,000 households in the Outaouais region and around 12,000 households in the Laurentides region were affected. The city of Montreal reported nearly 18,500 addresses without power.
As the situation developed, by March 12, 2026, the number of households without power across Quebec rose to over 140,000. Reports indicated that Montérégie alone had over 60,000 households without electricity by 3 AM.
Montreal’s outages included 25,842 customers affected, while the Centre-du-Québec region saw around 16,800 customers without power. In the Capitale-Nationale region, over 1,170 outages were recorded.
François Legault stated, “Les équipes d’Hydro-Québec sont prêtes pour ce soir et cette nuit,” indicating that the utility’s teams were prepared for the ongoing situation. Cendrix Bouchard added, “Ce sont des pannes, je peux vous le confirmer, qui sont reliées aux conditions météorologiques que l’on voit, qui s’intensifient,” confirming that the outages were indeed linked to worsening weather conditions.
Weather forecasts had predicted significant disruptions due to the freezing rain, with meteorologists estimating between 20 to 30 millimeters of accumulation in affected areas. As conditions continued to evolve, Hydro-Québec anticipated a higher number of outages.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the outages and restoration timelines, as the situation is still developing.
