BC Hydro restores power to 99% of customers after weekend storms

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 10, 2026

Photo courtesy: CBC News

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — BC Hydro has restored electricity to 99% of customers affected by two powerful weekend storms. However, thousands remained without power as crews worked to repair extensive damage across British Columbia.

In an update on Monday, November 9, the utility said the storms had caused outages affecting nearly 415,000 customers since Friday.

Approximately 6,000 customers were still without electricity when BC Hydro released its latest restoration figures.

Most of the remaining outages were in the Central Interior, particularly in communities north and east of Prince George.

Extensive damage delays restoration

BC Hydro said the Central Interior suffered some of the worst damage during the storms.

Crews identified approximately 200 spans of downed electrical wires, along with broken power poles and damaged equipment.

In several areas, workers must rebuild sections of the electrical system before restoring service.

The repairs involve replacing poles, installing new crossarms and reconnecting damaged power lines.

Meanwhile, fallen trees and debris have made some locations difficult to reach. Soft ground has also limited access for heavy equipment.

To speed up restoration, BC Hydro has deployed additional crews, contractors and specialized equipment.

The utility is also moving workers from areas where power has returned to communities that still need assistance.

Some rural areas face longer outages

Although most customers have regained electricity, some rural communities could face longer disruptions.

BC Hydro said the hardest-hit areas north and east of Prince George may remain without power for several days.

As of Monday’s update, the earliest expected restoration for some of these locations was late Tuesday evening, November 10.

However, repair schedules could change depending on site conditions and the extent of the damage.

BC Hydro spokesperson Whitney Deane said crews had been working around the clock since Friday.

The utility also acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents experiencing prolonged outages.

Power restoration improves after weekend storms

The storms began affecting British Columbia on Friday, November 6, bringing strong winds that toppled trees and damaged electrical infrastructure.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, November 8, around 135,000 customers were without electricity at the same time.

By Sunday afternoon, BC Hydro had reduced that figure to approximately 30,000.

The number continued to decline as crews completed repairs across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and other affected regions.

By Monday, the utility reported restoring service to 99% of customers affected by the storms.

More severe weather could bring new outages

Despite the progress, BC Hydro is preparing for additional storms expected to affect the province this week.

The utility said it was monitoring approaching weather systems and positioning crews to respond to potential new outages.

Residents are encouraged to keep emergency kits stocked with enough supplies for at least 72 hours.

BC Hydro also recommends charging mobile devices and preparing for possible disruptions.

Meanwhile, the utility reminded residents to stay at least 10 metres away from fallen or damaged electrical wires.

Anyone who encounters a downed power line should avoid the area and call 911.

Customers can check the latest outages and estimated restoration times through the BC Hydro mobile app or its official outage website.