TORONTO - Despite setbacks from another wind storm Monday night, crews were making progress restoring power 48 hours after damaging winds raked the province, Ontario's largest utility said Tuesday.
As of Tuesday evening, the number of Hydro One customers without power had been cut to 34,000, down from a height of 235,000 on Sunday.
The reduction came even though another 24,000 customers saw their service interrupted from the second wind storm to hit the province in two days on Monday night.
The 1,300 utility workers from Hydro One and 23 local utilities from across the province working to repair downed lines represented an effort not seen for some time in Ontario, said Hydro One spokeswoman Daniele Gauvin.
"We have the same size workforce out that we did for the 1998 ice storm," Gauvin said.
Crews were redeployed Tuesday from other areas of the province to assist efforts in the hardest hit regions, including Bancroft, Bracebridge, Huntsville and Parry Sound.
"Our 10 helicopters are focused in the Bancroft areas, as well as Bracebridge and Huntsville," said Gauvin.
Gauvin said she expected most customers to have their power restored by sometime Wednesday.
However, the utility warned some people in more remote locations, such as those on islands, could remain without lights until Thursday or Friday.
