Alectra Utilities, the electricity company that serves the city, handles every Brampton power outage, and you can check one on Alectra’s online outage map or report it 24/7 at 1-833-253-2872. If a power line is down, stay at least 10 metres away and call 911 and Alectra right away. Below: how to tell if the outage is only at your home, the order Alectra restores power, when to throw out fridge food, and who to call for streetlights and fallen trees.
At a glance
Report an outage or hazard: Alectra, 1-833-253-2872 (Option 1), staffed 24/7, or online through the My Alectra portal.
Check the outage map: Alectra outage map.
Downed power line: stay 10 metres back, call 911 and Alectra.
Streetlight out: call the City of Brampton at 311, not Alectra.
Be ready: the City says to plan for at least 72 hours on your own.
Updates: Alectra posts outage news on X at @AlectraNews.
Other City issues: our Brampton 311 guide explains what the City handles.
Table of Contents
Who do I call for a power outage in Brampton?
In Brampton, you report a power outage to Alectra Utilities, not the City. Alectra’s report page lists one number for its whole service area, 1-833-253-2872, Option 1, and says the call centre is staffed 24 hours a day. The City’s own windstorm page gives residents the same number.
You can also report:
- online, using the outage form in the My Alectra portal
- by web chat, using the chat icon on Alectra’s report page
The same channels take reports of hazards, such as downed or low wires, and damage to Alectra equipment. Alectra asks you to attach a photo only if it is safe to take one.
Save the number in your phone now. Alectra’s outage tips page suggests it, along with keeping one corded phone in the house, since cordless phones stop working when the power goes.
How to check Alectra’s outage map
Alectra’s outage map shows current outages across its service area, including Brampton. It is linked from Alectra’s outages page, where you can also choose Brampton as your municipality.
Use the map to answer two questions before you call:
- Is there a known outage in your area? If your street sits inside a reported outage, Alectra already knows about it.
- Is it only your home? If the map shows nothing near you and your neighbours have power, the problem may be inside your house.
Also read: Brampton Hydro Rates Change November 1: what you’ll pay
Is it only my house? Check this first
If only your home has lost power, check your breakers or fuses first. Alectra says to reset tripped breakers or replace blown fuses, and to call or report online only if you still have no power after that.
Alectra’s preparedness guide adds one more check: if power is back on the street but your house is still dark, look at the “stack”, the point where the electrical service connects to your home, for visible damage. Don’t touch it. Report it to Alectra.
What to do during a power outage
Alectra’s outage tips page lists what to do while the power is off. The key steps:
- Turn off stove elements and the oven, and keep things off the stovetop so nothing heats up when power returns.
- Unplug appliances and electronics, and leave one light switched on so you know when power is back.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Add ice to the fridge during a long outage if you can.
- Use flashlights or light sticks. If you use candles, put them in secure holders, away from anything that burns and out of reach of children and pets, and never leave them alone.
- Never run a barbecue, camp heater or generator indoors. They give off carbon monoxide.
- Run a portable generator outside only, away from windows, doors and vents. Refuel it only when it is off and cool.
- Use only indoor-rated, CSA-approved space heaters, kept at least 1 metre from anything that burns, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Stay out of a flooded basement unless you are sure the main power is off.
If someone in your home relies on medical equipment that needs power, Alectra’s guide says to have a backup plan in place before an outage. For medication that must stay cold, it says to check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Downed power lines: stay 10 metres back
Treat every fallen power line as live, even when it isn’t sparking. Alectra’s powerline safety page says to stay at least 10 metres away, about the length of a school bus, keep everyone else back, and call 911 and Alectra immediately.
The City of Brampton gives the same advice in its windstorm guidance: never touch downed lines or electrical equipment, move into a safe building if you’re outside, and if you’re driving, pull over away from trees and power lines.
After a storm, check for wires tangled in trees and fences before you start clearing branches, especially with a chainsaw. Alectra also asks residents not to try to help its crews.
How long will my power be out?
Alectra does not promise fixed restoration times. Its restoration page says estimates are preliminary, are updated as crews report from the site, and depend on how many crews and how much equipment are available. In severe weather, Alectra says it may not be able to give an estimate at all.
You can hear the latest estimate for your area by calling 1-833-253-2872, Option 1.
The order Alectra restores power
Alectra restores power in this order, according to its restoration page:
| Priority | What gets fixed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Make the area safe, then restore critical sites: hospitals, police, fire and paramedic stations, seniors’ homes, pumping stations, sewage plants and communication centres |
| 2 | Dense neighbourhoods, where crews can bring back the most customers in the least time |
| 3 | Smaller pockets of customers and single homes |
That order explains why a busy area may come back before a single street. In Brampton, that means places like Brampton Civic Hospital are near the top of the list.
Why your neighbour has power and you don’t
When a fault happens, a protective device cuts power to the damaged section so equipment isn’t harmed. Alectra can isolate that section, sometimes remotely from its control centre, and restore the rest. Your neighbour may be on a different part of the network, Alectra says.
Is the food in my fridge safe?
Alectra’s Power Outage Preparedness Guide sets out when to throw food away. Its rule of thumb is “If in doubt, throw it out.”
| Food | Throw it out if |
|---|---|
| Many meat, dairy and egg items | Held above 4°C for over 2 hours |
| Milk, cream, yogurt and similar dairy | The outage lasts longer than 6 to 8 hours (Alectra’s tips page) |
| Sauces, spreads and jams | Held above 10°C for over 8 hours |
| Frozen vegetable juices and packaged vegetables | Held above 4°C for 6 hours |
| Ice cream | It has thawed. Alectra says to discard it |
Frozen meat that still has ice crystals can be refrozen, Alectra’s tips page says, and so can most bakery items.
After the power comes back
Alectra’s tips page says to wait 10 to 15 minutes before plugging in fridges and air conditioners, and to plug in only essential items at first. Then check your food and restock your emergency kit.
Also read: Brampton Snow Clearing Guide: plow times, sidewalks and fines
Streetlights, fallen trees and other outage problems
Not every outage problem goes to Alectra. Here is who handles what in Brampton:
| Problem | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Power out at your home or street | Alectra, 1-833-253-2872 or online |
| Downed or low power line | 911 and Alectra |
| Streetlight out | City of Brampton, 311 (905.874.2000 from outside the city) |
| Damage claim from a City tree | City Clerk’s Office, 905.874.2960 or risk.management@brampton.ca |
| Emergency planning questions | Brampton Emergency Management Office, bemo@brampton.ca |
Streetlights: Alectra’s streetlight page says it does not own or run streetlights. In Brampton, call 311 and give the street name and the pole number, which is on the street side of the pole. If there’s no number, give the nearest house address. The City’s 311 page says agents answer daily from 7 a.m. to midnight, with urgent calls taken overnight.
Trees: If a City tree damages your property, the City’s fallen trees page says it doesn’t pay automatically. It investigates whether there were signs of decay and whether it knew about the tree. If a tree or limb failed during a storm, the City says it won’t be responsible for the damage.
How to prepare for the next outage in Brampton
The City of Brampton’s Be Prepared page asks residents to be ready to look after themselves for at least 72 hours, because responders help people in urgent need first. Alectra gives the same advice.
The City’s 72-hour emergency kit checklist includes:
- a flashlight and a battery-powered or crank radio, with spare batteries
- a first-aid kit and any medication
- food and bottled water, at least 2 litres per person per day
- a change of clothes and footwear, and a blanket or sleeping bag for each person
- spare car keys, cash and copies of ID
- a whistle, garbage bags and waterproof matches
- a backpack or duffel bag in case you have to leave
Alectra’s guide suggests planning for more water, 4 litres per person a day, to cover cooking and washing as well as drinking. It also says to keep your car’s gas tank topped up, test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and learn how to open your garage door by hand.
Worked example: a family of four
A family of four planning for 72 hours needs at least 24 litres of water by the City’s minimum (4 people x 2 litres x 3 days). By Alectra’s 4 litres a day, the same family would store 48 litres. If you have the space, aim for the higher number, since it also covers cooking and washing.
What this means for you
Windstorms and winter weather can knock out power in Brampton, and the City’s emergency pages list electrical blackouts among the risks residents should plan for. Take five minutes this week:
- Save 1-833-253-2872 in your phone.
- Bookmark Alectra’s outage map.
- Check your flashlight, batteries and water supply against the City’s checklist.
- Know where your breaker panel is and how to reset it.
For school closures and bus cancellations when bad weather hits, see our guide to Brampton school bus cancellations and winter weather alerts.
FAQ
How do I report a power outage in Brampton?
Call Alectra Utilities at 1-833-253-2872 and choose Option 1, or report it online through My Alectra. The line is staffed 24/7. Check your breakers first if only your home is affected.
Is there a Brampton power outage map?
Yes. Alectra’s online outage map covers its whole service area, including Brampton. It is linked from the outages page on alectrautilities.com.
Does the City of Brampton handle power outages?
No. Alectra Utilities distributes electricity in Brampton and handles outages. The City handles streetlights through 311 and tells residents to report power problems to Alectra.
How far should I stay from a downed power line?
Stay at least 10 metres away, about the length of a school bus, Alectra says. Assume the line is live even if it isn’t sparking, and call 911 and Alectra.
Why does my street still have no power when the next street does?
Alectra restores power in order of priority: critical sites first, then dense neighbourhoods, then smaller pockets. Your street may also be on a different part of the network from the next one.
How long does food last in the fridge without power?
Alectra’s guide says many meat, dairy and egg items should be thrown out if held above 4°C for more than 2 hours. Keep the fridge closed to hold the cold in.
Who fixes a broken streetlight in Brampton?
The City of Brampton. Call 311 with the street name and the pole number. Alectra says it does not own or operate streetlights.
Can I run a generator in my garage?
No. Alectra says to run portable generators outdoors only, away from doors, windows and vents, because they give off carbon monoxide.
Related on Brampton Brief
- Brampton Hydro Rates Change November 1: what you’ll pay
- Brampton 311: how to report a problem or reach the City
- Brampton Snow Clearing Guide: plow times, sidewalks and fines
This is general safety information. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: Alectra Utilities: Outages, Report a Power Outage, Hazard or Electrical Emergency, During an Outage, How We Restore Power, Powerline Safety, Report a Streetlight Out, Power Outage Preparedness Guide (PDF), City of Brampton: Windstorms, Be Prepared, 72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist, Fallen Trees, About 311
How we reported this: Brampton Brief checked every number, rule and tip in this article against Alectra Utilities’ outage, safety and restoration pages and its Power Outage Preparedness Guide, and the City of Brampton’s emergency management, 311 and fallen trees pages, on October 24, 2026. We’ll update it if anything changes. Spot an error? Email hello@bramptonbrief.com with “Correction” in the subject.