Environment Canada has issued winter weather alerts for our area, with a total snowfall accumulation of five to 10 centimeters and 20 to 35 centimeters of rainfall beginning this afternoon through this evening. With active weather in the forecast, we would like to remind the public about the following safety tips. 

Stay updated

We strive to provide reliable and timely information about utility interruptions. Stay up-to-date with our outages map, and by following us on X and Facebook.

Gently clear snow from equipment

Protect your home and health:

• Keep snow and ice from building up on outdoor water, gas, and electrical equipment, such as utility meters and outdoor exhaust vents.
• We appreciate community members who help keep fire hydrants and catch basins cleared of snow and ice – thank you! Get more winter safety tips.
• Never attempt to clear ice from around electrical lines yourself. Keep your eaves troughs free of debris so water runs safely away before it freezes. Ice can build up where overhead electrical service wires attach to your home, a dangerous and costly situation. Consider that the root of the problem may be poor attic insulation.
• Be aware when shoveling or plowing near a gas meter. Use a broom to clear the area around the meter. 

Check our sewer overflow map

During and after heavy rainfall, sewer overflow points may discharge diluted sewage into the environment and contribute to this pollution. Utilities Kingston provides this information on a real-time map to help you make a better-informed decision about recreational water use. Consider this information along with public health precautions.

Basement flooding prevention

Know what to do if your basement has flooded. First and foremost, consider your family’s health and safety. Entering a wet basement could be hazardous! When in doubt, don’t enter the flooded area until you are told it is safe by a professional qualified to do so. 

Know your electricity provider - and who to contact in an emergency

Stormy weather can cause power outages. We want to ensure that our operations centre staff remain focused on safely and quickly restoring services to our customers. Please assist us by knowing (and calling) your correct service provider.

In the event of a power outage or electricity emergency:

• Utilities Kingston customers – check UtilitiesKingston.com/Outages or call 613-546-1181 anytime.
• Hydro One customers – report an outage by texting 92887 (WATTS), through the company's outage map at HydroOne.com/StormCentre, or by calling 1-800-434-1235.
• Eastern Ontario Power customers – call 1-844-701-9473. 

To see if you are in Utilities Kingston’s service area, use the address look-up at UtilitiesKingston.com/MultiUtility/ServiceAreas. Utilities Kingston’s electricity customers are in Central Kingston, Barriefield, and CFB Kingston.