On Monday, March 23, 2026, an unplanned power outage left residents and businesses in downtown Stratford, Ontario, without electricity for approximately two hours. The outage began around 2:00 p.m. and affected customers on Marketplace, Wellington Street, and George Street.
According to Festival Hydro, the issue was caused by a faulted underground connection bar. Utility crews worked to fix the equipment, which joins electrical cables beneath the street, and restored power to the area by 4:00 p.m.
The affected streets are a major part of the Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area. This district includes many of the shops and restaurants located near City Hall.
Festival Hydro has served the local community since November 2000 and currently provides electricity to about 22,500 customers. The utility company also provides service to nearby towns like St. Marys, Seaforth, and Zurich. Residents can report any future power problems to the company at any time by calling 519-271-4700.
