FAQs

Do not respond or click links. Report it to us and:

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

• Ottawa Police Service: (613) 236-1222, ext. 5433.

Common scams include: fake payment requests, refund offers and threats of disconnection unless you pay immediately. Callers may spoof our number.

We’ll never demand immediate payment, ask for credit card details by phone or request payment via gift cards/e-transfers. If you’re unsure, hang up and call (613) 738-6400 to verify that we contacted you.

Our collections team may contact you, but we’ll never pressure you for immediate payment. We’ll refer you to secure options (MyAccount, your bank, mail).

Yes. A Hydro Ottawa employee may visit your home for legitimate reasons (service work, meter readings). Field staff drive official vehicles, carry photo ID and do not collect payments at the door.

See our “Fraud awareness” page for current scam alerts, examples of legitimate communications and safety tips.

Yes. Replacing aging equipment is essential for a safe, reliable system. We’re required to replace equipment at the end of its service life.

We try to minimize our impact, but you may see increased activity, equipment and traffic control.

Crews follow strict safety practices. Please keep a safe distance when speaking with them.

We email, text or call affected residents at least 48 hours before a planned outage. We also send written letters to these residents five business days in advance. 

You can review maps of poles, cables and transformers. If you’ll be affected, we’ll notify you before the work begins.

Yes - by letter, phone, text or email (based on the contact information you’ve provided on your account). We’ll also notify you before planned power interruptions.

Log in to MyAccount and update your contact information and notification preferences to receive text or email alerts.

Contact our customer service team at (613) 738-6400 to have your account flagged for medical needs. While not a guarantee of uninterrupted power, this helps us prioritize during planned outages.

We restore the site to finished grade with topsoil and grass seed. Customers maintain the area to ensure the grass grows properly. Small amounts of fill may remain under the topsoil.

We maintain trees along corridors on a regular cycle (generally every three years). If we have to work on additional trees, we’ll notify the affected residents. 

Clearances within our easement must be maintained. If vegetation interferes with our equipment, we may have to trim or remove it. To ensure a safe clearance, you could replant the vegetation. Always contact Ontario One Call (1-800-400-2255) before you dig and refer to Hydro Ottawa’s ‘Tree Planting Advice’ brochure.

They’re usually located within our easements or the City’s Right-of-Way (near property lines or in back/side yards). Generally, we install new equipment in the same locations as existing infrastructure.

This is a legal right that allows us to access a portion of private property to install or maintain electrical equipment. This part of the property must remain accessible and clear of obstructions.

“Right-of-Way” or “Road Right-of-Way” or “Road Allowance” is the strip of land between private property lines reserved for public use (roads, sidewalks, signs, utilities).