What to Do During a Toronto Power Outage: EcoFlow as Your Emergency Lifeline
Toronto's weather can be unpredictable, and with aging infrastructure and rising demand, power outages are becoming increasingly common. Whether caused by snowstorms, summer heatwaves, or equipment failures, blackouts disrupt daily life for those who are not prepared. That’s where portable power stations and solar generators come in. Safe to use indoors and reliable in any season, they provide peace of mind when the lights go out.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the causes of Toronto outages, what to do when one strikes, and how EcoFlow products can keep you connected and protected.
Common Causes of Power Outages in Toronto
First, let’s look at the most common causes of outages in Toronto.
Weather-Related Events
Severe weather causes the most outages in the Toronto area, as much as 80%. These are primarily caused by high winds, lightning, and winter storms that bring ice and snow, which can damage equipment. Summer storms can also cause blackouts due to rain and flooding, as well as increased demand for electricity during heat waves.
Equipment Failure
The second most common cause of outages in Toronto is equipment failure, often resulting from aging infrastructure, since approximately one-third of our equipment is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Accidents
Construction accidents, such as crews hitting buried or overhead lines, also cause blackouts. Additionally, traffic accidents involving cars or trucks striking power poles can result in power outages.
Animals or Trees
Sometimes, birds, squirrels, raccoons, or other animals interfere with the equipment, and trees can grow too large, bringing down lines outside of weather events.
Schedule Outages
Finally, electricity companies sometimes perform scheduled outages to repair, maintain, or upgrade equipment. However, we are generally warned of these ahead of time, allowing us to prepare for outages.
Steps to Take When the Power Goes Out
Use LED flashlights and lanterns instead of candles as a safe light source.
Identify the problem. Is it just a breaker, your whole house, or did the entire neighbourhood go out?
If your whole neighbourhood is dark, report the outage.
Locate your emergency supply kit.
Turn on your backup portable power station or solar generator to run essential appliances. Avoid traditional gas generators that cannot be used indoors due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
In the event of storms, secure your doors, windows, and outdoor furniture and stay indoors until the storm passes.
Unplug sensitive electronics (computers, TVs, appliances) to prevent potential damage from power surges when the electricity returns.
During winter, have everyone move into a single room and keep the doors closed to retain the heat. You can run a small electric heater with your portable power station, keeping everyone warm and safe.
Monitor the outage on your cell phone or emergency radio.
How to Stay Powered During an Outage
Here are some usage scenarios and products to help you stay powered up when the grid goes down. EcoFlow generators provide electricity, support emergency readiness, and protect indoor safety.
Portable Power Station For Essentials
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max Plus is a compact, lightweight, and portable backup power supply that can be easily moved anywhere it’s needed. Despite its small size, it has enough power to run small household appliances, lights, computers, and more. With fast-charging capabilities and 600W output (1200W with X-Boost), this nifty gadget is a power outage essential.
Backup For Key Appliances
For essential appliances, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus starts at 1024Wh and is expandable up to 5kWh with additional batteries, making it an ideal home backup solution for powering refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, and more.
Whole Home Backup and Extended Outages
When dealing with extended power outages, you will need a more robust power station that can be recharged. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) starts at 4000W of output to run all your essential appliances. Then, while crews work hard to repair the damaged equipment, you can set up your efficient 400W portable solar panel and quickly recharge, allowing you to last for days on end and still keep all your essential appliances running.
Another great feature of the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is that it’s expandable up to 25kWh with additional batteries, making it an ideal choice for a whole-home backup solution. You can even tie it into your electrical panel, allowing you to power your entire home seamlessly.
Preparing Ahead: Your Toronto Power Outage Kit
Keep the following items in a waterproof bin in a readily accessible location to ensure your family's safety during a power outage.
Portable power stations or solar generators are safer indoors than gas generators.
Complete first aid kit.
Necessary prescription medications or other medical supplies that family members or pets may need.
Enough water to last each person in the home for three days, including pets.
Non-perishable foods to last three days, including for pets.
Emergency radio to listen for updates in case the cell towers are down.
Small portable heater for winter outages to keep your family safe.
Clean, dry, warm clothes for every family member.
Plenty of blankets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Power Outages Usually Last in Toronto?
Power outages in Toronto can last from minutes to days. Minor equipment failures and glitches may only last minutes, while severe weather events typically cause the grid to go down for hours or even days, while the damage to the infrastructure is repaired.
How Often Do Power Outages Happen in Toronto?
Ontario, including Toronto, experiences an average of almost five outages per year. However, extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly common, do result in a higher frequency of blackouts, so it’s best to be prepared.
EcoFlow Products Deliver Power and Peace of Mind During an Outage
From unexpected storms to scheduled maintenance, power outages in Toronto aren’t going away, but the proper emergency power setup can make all the difference. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) with a solar panel and expandable batteries provides a solution for extended outages and whole-home use.
These modern alternatives to outdated gas generators serve as emergency lifelines, offering quiet, clean, and safe indoor operation, keeping your family safe, comfortable, and connected when the lights go out.