Alectra Utilities is urging residents in Aurora and across Ontario to practice extra caution around powerlines as new data indicates a concerning rise in electrical fatalities. The company, which serves more than one million customers in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, has joined a province-wide awareness campaign during Powerline Safety Week, running from May 11 to May 17, 2026.
According to the latest Ontario Electrical Safety Report from the Electrical Safety Authority, 43 per cent of all occupational electrical fatalities between 2014 and 2025 were caused by contact with a powerline. Data further shows a 29 per cent increase in the rate of powerline-related fatalities when comparing the 2015 to 2019 period with 2020 to 2024.
As spring construction and outdoor home improvement projects get underway, Alectra Utilities is reminding the community that these risks are preventable. “These are preventable incidents, and the recent increase underscores the need for everyone to stay alert and work safely around powerlines,” said Chris Hudson, Senior Vice-President, Network Operations and Safety at Alectra Utilities.
To stay safe, the company advises residents to maintain a distance of at least three metres from overhead powerlines and to remember that electricity can arc even without direct contact. When working outdoors, residents should always look up before moving ladders, long-handled tools, or other equipment. Additionally, anyone planning to dig should contact Ontario One Call first.
In the event of an electrical emergency or a downed powerline, residents should stay at least 10 metres away—roughly the length of a school bus—and call 911 immediately. If a powerline makes contact with a vehicle, occupants are advised to stay inside until help arrives. In Aurora, the local municipality directs residents to contact Alectra Utilities directly to report power outages or hazardous electrical situations.
