Prepare and Stay Safe

Prepare and Stay Safe

 

Storm Preparedness

We know that you rely on electricity to power your day. Being storm ready can help you stay calm—and know that our crews are safely working as quickly as possible to restore your power.

PREPARATION IS KEY

To be storm ready:

  • Save our outage line 1-877-428-6004 to your contact list on your cell phone.
  • Bookmark our outage map and online outage reporting tool to report and track your outage online.
  • Follow us on X (Twitter) for updates on the storm, our response and power restorations.
  • Track the weather by following local weather reports or by visiting Environment Canada.
  • Charge your cell phone—it becomes essential during an outage, as you’ll be able to get the latest information, update others and check on loved ones.
  • Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit with canned and dried foods, manual can openers, water (2 liters per person per day), batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, blankets and cash, a mobile phone, a power bank charger, prescriptions and any other necessary medical supplies.
  • To avoid electrical surges if you do lose power, turn off and unplug electrical equipment such as televisions.
  • Lower the temperature of your fridge to 40ºF/4ºC and of your freezer to 0ºF/-18ºC
  • Learn to manually operate your automatic garage door.
  • Make sure backup generators are installed by a qualified electrician and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

STAY CLEAR FROM HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS

For safety, consider all cables and wires to be live whether they are electrical, cable or telephone and stay a school bus distance away.

If a line is in the water, there is even more reason to be cautious—consider it and the water energized. Keep children away from all flooded areas and areas with lots of debris, because the water or storm debris could be hiding a live wire.

You shouldn’t try to remove or trim branches near a powerline. If a tree or tree limbs have fallen on a powerline or pulled it down, keep a safe distance from the line or the tree. Contact us as soon as you can at 1-877-428-6004.

ASSESS YOUR PROPERTY AND REPLENISH SUPPLIES

Storms can cause electrical damage to individual properties, which require a certified electrician to repair before we can safely restore the power to your home or business. If your meter mast is damaged, you need to get an electrical contractor to make repairs before we can restore power. Read more on our Meter Mast Repair page.

After the storm passes, make sure to replenish your emergency kit, supplies and any other required items—so that you’re prepared for next time.

 

Extreme Cold Weather Events

While our grid is built for severe winter conditions, extreme temperatures that are well below our seasonal norms can cause challenges to our system. Utilities across Canada and parts of the United States experience similar challenges during extreme cold. 

In some cases, there is a possibility for power outages due to the very high demand for electricity that happens during extreme cold weather. This demand is caused when our customers’ need for heating significantly increases. In extreme cold temperatures, more people stay home, also using other sources of energy, like lights and appliances, to avoid the cold outside. Our teams in power production, and in the field across the province, do significant planning to ensure we are ready to respond to these periods of high demand on the grid.


How can increased electricity demand during extreme cold weather be managed? 

We treat this type of situation like we would any other extreme weather—with people from across Nova Scotia Power preparing the system for these extreme conditions and by positioning our teams where they need to be to respond to any potential issues. We also coordinate with our neighbouring provinces to support each other and share resources wherever we can.

For customers, we may sometimes ask you to shift your energy consumption, such as using clothes washers and dryers or dishwashers, away from peak demand periods (Monday to Friday 7 AM–⁠noon and 5–⁠9 PM).

If electricity demand becomes higher than the available supply, we may need to temporarily disconnect some customers to avoid seriously damaging the grid. By safely and carefully disconnecting power to one area then another, we can limit demand and protect our system from overloading. Temporary outages, sometimes called load shedding, is a last resort measure to protect the power system when it is reaching maximum capacity. This approach is used by electricity providers across North America.

 
 

GRID STATUS INDEX

The Grid Status Index indicates how close the system is to capacity in a severe cold weather event. Status levels will change when the amount of electricity being used by customers could be higher than the amount of generation that is currently available on the system. 

extreme cold warning icon

Warning issued for Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026

Updated: Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 9:30 AM

Normal
Normal
Power system is operating under normal conditions.
Watch
Watch
Power system is forecasted to have higher than usual demand within the next 72 hours. Please be prepared to conserve energy if asked.
Warning
Warning
The power system is forecasted to approach maximum capacity. Please conserve energy during this time. Turn off high-consumption appliances, reduce thermostats, and prepare for controlled temporary outages.
Load Shedding
Load Shedding
Controlled temporary outages are in effect to protect the power system. Please conserve energy. Customers may experience a power outage and should monitor social channels and the outage map for more information.

 

 

How to Conserve Energy

A home with a family having a thermostat showing 22 degrees
  • Avoid using large appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens, and clothes washers and dryers, especially during peak demand hours (7–⁠11 AM and 5–9 PM). Use the microwave, air fryer, or toaster oven instead.
  • Shift non-essential activities, like laundry, to times when power demand is lower (midnight–7 AM, 11 AM–5 PM, and 9 PM–midnight).
  • If you have an electric water heater, limit the use of hot water as much as possible.
  • Turn off all unnecessary lights and unplug any electronics or appliances not in use.
  • Charge electric vehicles overnight.
  • Select the lowest comfortable thermostat setting. Home heating systems work harder when outdoor temperatures are colder. If it is extremely cold outside, consider using additional sources of heating, if available.

 

Safety

Safety is our priority, and we're here to help keep you safe ahead of storms.

Generator safety

Installation

Generators that aren’t installed correctly put you, your family, your property and our crews at risk.

Never install a generator indoors. If you plan to connect your generator directly to your electrical system, a qualified electrician must install it. The electrician must apply for a wiring permit and have the generator inspected by a Nova Scotia Power wiring inspector before it is used.

Never feed power from your generator into a wall outlet or directly into your electrical system. This could allow power to back-feed into our system and result in severe injury or death to our employees. When power is restored after an outage, it may feed directly into your generator, causing severe damage. To eliminate this dangerous situation, a transfer switch is required to be properly installed by a qualified electrician.

Safe Operation

To ensure you are using your generator safely:

  • Carefully read the owner's manual before using your generator.
  • Carefully read the owner's manual before using your generator.
  • Never operate the generator indoors or in an enclosed space. Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
  • Operate outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area to prevent exhaust fumes from entering windows, doors and fresh air intake areas.
  • Operating your generator in wet conditions may cause electrocution. Avoid contact with the generator if you are wet or standing in water.
  • Check cords running from your generator to make sure they are in good condition, rated for outdoor use and are the proper wire gauge size for the appliance load.
  • Do not store fuel indoors or refuel your generator while it's running.

Carbon monoxide kills

  • Carbon monoxide is a gas you can’t see or smell, created by the combustion of fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane.
  • Every year, dozens of Nova Scotians are admitted to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning, and in some cases the poisoning is fatal. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include headache, nausea, dizziness and blurred vision.
  • There are many common sources of carbon monoxide, including vehicles, furnaces and blocked chimneys. Generators can also be a source, so it’s essential that generators are installed properly, outside and away from any potential point of entry that would allow fumes into your home or business.
  • All homes should have a carbon monoxide detector, particularly if you have a furnace, woodstove, generator or garage. Carbon monoxide detectors are sold at most hardware and home supply stores.

For more information on carbon monoxide, the proper installation and use of detectors, and safety tips, please visit 811 Nova Scotia and the Halifax Professional Firefighters Association.

Step potential hazard

When a live wire makes contact with the ground, the earth becomes energized. The voltage dissipates in circles away from the initial contact point. Never walk or run from a downed powerline—hop or shuffle to safety.

Water and electricity don't mix

Don't attempt to access your electrical panel if there is water in the immediate area. Customers should take every precaution and never come into contact with the water or the panel until power has been disconnected.

Customers should contact our Customer Care Centre at 1-877-428-6004 and request an emergency disconnect of power. Before service can be restored, a certified electrician will need to facilitate the necessary repairs and inspection.

Candles

Candles aren’t recommended for emergency lighting because of the risk of fire.

If you do use candles, make sure you use a proper candle holder, never leave them unattended and keep them away from combustible material, and always have a suitable fire extinguisher in your home.