Hydro-Québec Faces Class Action Over Montreal West End Power Outage
A significant class action lawsuit has been initiated against Hydro-Québec due to a severe power outage affecting the west end of Montreal. The outage, which occurred on January 24, was triggered by a failure at the Hampstead substation. This incident left thousands of residents in areas like Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Côte-Saint-Luc, and Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce without power during extreme cold temperatures that dropped to as low as -26 degrees Celsius.
Impact of the Power Outage
Residents faced prolonged disruptions, with some without electricity for up to three days. Reports indicate that intermittent power issues persisted even after the initial outage. Tragically, two senior citizens’ deaths during this event are currently being investigated by Quebec’s Coroner’s Office.
Personal Accounts of Affected Residents
Among those impacted is Jane Critchlow, a resident of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Jane and her husband, Stan, endured a loss of both electricity and running water for 62 hours due to an earlier outage that began on January 22. Critchlow expressed her frustration, stating, “I believe at some point they have to be accountable for actions like this.” Their experience included severe water damage from burst pipes that flooded their basement and garage.
- 62 hours without electricity for some residents.
- Significant water damage reported in homes.
- Impact on personal belongings due to flooding.
Legal Actions Against Hydro-Québec
The class action was filed by Lex Group Inc. in the Quebec Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges that Hydro-Québec failed to fulfill its obligations by not addressing the aging infrastructure issues that contributed to the outage. Attorney David Assor highlighted that many residents are coming forward to report their losses, which include spoiled food and unexpected hotel expenses.
Consequences of the Power Outage
The ramifications of the outage went beyond financial losses. Some residents reported losing pets during this crisis. On the day of the outage, approximately 15,000 customers lost power as temperatures plummeted to -25 degrees Celsius. Even after the initial disruption, about 2,000 customers remained without power until the following Monday.
Future Expectations and Responses
Critchlow and her husband hope to be part of the class action, citing significant repair costs they are now facing. “Just the cost of the plumber alone is going to be through the roof,” she noted, acknowledging the extensive repairs needed in their home.
In response to the lawsuit, Hydro-Québec stated it is assessing the legal filing and refrained from further comments. The company emphasized that customers should seek compensation from their insurance providers for damages incurred during the outage. Hydro-Québec also mentioned its efforts to communicate with affected communities throughout this crisis.
As the situation develops, many residents are advocating for accountability from Hydro-Québec regarding the infrastructure failures that led to the outage, emphasizing the need for improvements to prevent future incidents.
