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Wildfires Response Update

We’re working closely with local authorities and first responders, as they work to address forest fires in the Tantallon/Hammonds Plains and Shelburne areas of the province.

We've been restoring power when it’s safe to do so, with direction from fire teams. Upon re-entry, we ask that you use caution and follow the guidelines below.

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Safety First!

If you come across a downed wire, stay 20 feet away, treat it as energized and report it to our outage line at 1-877-428-6004.

Re-Entry Electrical Checklist

1.

Turn off or unplug any electrical appliances or equipment that was left on. This will help avoid power surges when your power is reconnected.

2.

Complete a visual inspection of the electrical equipment running into your home, including your meter base, meter mast and service wires. If your home itself and/or electrical equipment was impacted or damaged by fire, you may need a certified electrician to make repairs before crews can restore your power. See our visual below for more information.

3.

If you see a downed wire around or near your home, call our outage line at 1-877-428-6004 to report it.

Find a certified electrician

Re-Entry Information

GENERATORS AND PROPANE
  • Ensure generators are installed by a certified electrician.
    • If improperly installed, generators can be dangerous to our crews and restoration team.
    • You can find a certified electrician at nspower.ca/electricians.
  • Use extreme caution when using propane or gas. If you observe smouldering or hot spots, call 911.  
    • Never approach a propane cylinder—like the one used to power a propane grill—on a burnt structure.
    • Contact your propane supplier for proper inspection.

     

BATTERY STORAGE & ELECTRIC VEHICLES (LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES)

Due to the chemical composition of lithium-ion batteries, exposure to open flames or extreme heat can cause dangerous reactions like fire, explosion or release of toxic and flammable gases. If your home has been damaged by fire, there is an increased risk of re-ignition, as fire-damaged storage batteries have the potential for re-ignition after initial extinguishment. Use caution and contact the fire department if you suspect you might be at risk.

In the event of visible or suspected damage to a battery storage device or an electric vehicle:

  • Immediately contact the fire department or other relevant emergency response team.
  • Contact the battery or vehicle manufacturer’s customer support.
  • Notify all people who might be affected and ensure that they can evacuate the area.
  • Do not engage with the equipment or attempt to troubleshoot.

*Only certified professional electricians should handle damaged electrical and battery equipment.

**Only personnel qualified to safely remove damaged battery equipment from the home should do so.

Helpful information

To help ensure your power is restored as quickly as possible, you should check for damage to your electrical equipment. 

Have a look at your meter mast. It’s the tube that connects the service line to your home. Has the meter mast pulled away from your house? Is it bent or broken? If so, you’ll need a certified electrician to make repairs. We're here to help get you reconnected safely and quickly. For more information and to contact an electrician, visit our Repair a Damaged Meter page.

ADDITIONAL HELP

SAFETY REMINDERS FROM OUR CREWS

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For your safety and the safety of our crews, please remember these crucial safety measures:

1. Do not attempt to handle downed powerlines—they should be treated as live or energized.

2. Be aware of trees touching or tangled up in overhead lines—don’t attempt to cut them down yourself.

3. Keep a safe distance from crews working on the scene—don’t walk through or near by because it can be dangerous.

4. Stay off the road unless necessary—traffic could create more hazards to our crews and delay restoration efforts.

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Downed Line & Fallen Trees

For safety, consider all cables and wires to be energized 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 and consider it and the water energized. Keep children away from all flooded areas and areas with lots of debris because the water or debris could be hiding an energized line. You shouldn’t try to remove or trim branches near a powerline. If a tree or tree limbs have fallen on a power line 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.
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Generator Safety

Generators that aren’t installed correctly put you, your family, your property and our line 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 and 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.
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Water and Electricity Do Not 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.
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