Quick Read
- Over 87,400 Hydro-Québec customers lost power due to strong winds on December 19, 2025.
- Hydro-Québec reached a tentative agreement with its second largest union, representing 5,500 specialists and professionals.
Storms Knock Out Power for Thousands Across Quebec
December in Quebec is no stranger to turbulent weather, but this year’s winds have been particularly punishing. As gusts reached up to 90 km/h in Montreal and its neighboring regions, more than 87,400 Hydro-Québec customers found themselves unexpectedly in the dark. The Montérégie region bore the brunt, with nearly 33,000 homes and businesses losing electricity. Estrie followed with 22,600 outages, while Montreal itself counted about 8,500 customers off the grid by midday Friday, according to CityNews.
The disruption wasn’t just a brief inconvenience. Hydro-Québec, the province’s public utility giant, mobilized nearly 250 teams and over 500 line workers in response. “These gusts could damage trees and power lines, leading to outages,” the utility noted in a statement. Residents were urged to secure any loose outdoor items, steer clear of downed trees, and avoid fallen power lines—a familiar but always sobering set of instructions when nature flexes its muscles.
Complicating matters, a second wave of fierce winds was forecasted to sweep through southern Quebec overnight, threatening further outages and damage. While meteorologists expected conditions to ease by Saturday evening, the Laurentians, Mauricie, and Capitale-Nationale regions braced themselves for more gusts.
For the average Quebecer, the story is one of resilience. Families lit candles, neighbors checked on one another, and Hydro-Québec’s Info-Pannes app became an essential tool for tracking updates. Still, each outage is a reminder of how dependent modern life is on the quiet hum of electricity—and how quickly that can be disrupted.
Union and Utility Reach Crucial Agreement Amid Crisis
Even as crews scrambled to restore power, Hydro-Québec was navigating another, quieter storm: labor negotiations with its second largest union. On Friday, the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 5,500 specialists and professionals, announced a tentative agreement in principle. The union, affiliated with the FTQ, had been escalating pressure by refusing to work overtime—a tactic that ended immediately with the announcement.
Details of the agreement remain undisclosed, pending presentation to members at upcoming general meetings. However, the context behind the negotiations is telling. The expired collective agreement, dating back to December 2024, had left union members uneasy about their job security and the use of subcontractors. For CUPE, the priority was clear: safeguard in-house expertise and protect jobs. Hydro-Québec, on the other hand, sought flexibility to manage unpredictable situations—like the very storms currently testing its workforce.
In many ways, this labor dispute highlights the delicate balance at the heart of public utilities: the need for operational agility versus the value of institutional knowledge and stable employment. The fact that both sides were able to reach a preliminary accord, even as the region weathered literal and figurative storms, speaks to the importance of dialogue and compromise.
Power, People, and Preparedness: Lessons From the December Outages
December’s outages and negotiations draw attention to the challenges facing Hydro-Québec—not just in terms of infrastructure, but in workforce management and public communication. The utility’s rapid deployment of crews and clear safety messaging underscore its commitment to service, even under pressure. Yet, the situation also exposes vulnerabilities: aging infrastructure, unpredictable weather patterns, and the need for skilled professionals ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
For residents, the experience is a test of preparedness and community spirit. While some may grumble about flickering lights and cold homes, others see it as a chance to reconnect—with neighbors, with family, and with the realities of living in Quebec’s often unforgiving climate.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next for Hydro-Québec?
As southern Quebec recovers from the latest bout of storms, Hydro-Québec faces a critical juncture. The outcome of its agreement with the union could set the tone for future labor relations, influencing everything from emergency response to innovation. Meanwhile, the ongoing threat of extreme weather means that investments in grid resilience and crew training remain as urgent as ever.
In a province where winter can be both beautiful and brutal, the ability of Hydro-Québec to keep the lights on—and to keep its workforce engaged—will be watched closely by customers, policymakers, and union members alike.
The back-to-back crises confronting Hydro-Québec this December reveal how intertwined infrastructure, labor relations, and public safety truly are. While the utility’s swift response to outages and its progress at the bargaining table offer hope, the challenges ahead will require not just technical expertise, but genuine collaboration—between management, workers, and the communities they serve.