Aging substation caused Montreal blackout; replacement years away

The power outage affecting over 20,000 Montrealers during a cold snap was caused by a breaker failure at the Hampstead substation, which Hydro-Québec has aimed to replace since 2018 due to its aging infrastructure. Repairs are complex and could take weeks, with full restoration expected by Monday, though some areas remained without power. The substation, operational since 1955, is set for upgrades that have faced delays, with anticipated completion in 2029. Hydro-Québec acknowledged communication issues regarding restoration timelines and is working on mitigation measures.

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