Be prepared for a planned outage
Naka Power Utilities (NWT) provides safe and reliable power to our customers. Throughout the year, we plan outages so crews can safely maintain, repair or improve our power distribution system. These planned outages allow us to strengthen our grid, modernize our infrastructure and restore power faster when unplanned outages do occur.
We understand these outages can be inconvenient, so we inform customers in advance of any planned outages to minimize the impact.
Check this page for occasional updates or follow us on Facebook and X to stay up to date on our planned outages. If you have any specific questions or concerns, contact us.
Upcoming Outages
- May 21: Customers in Hay River at 4301, 4303, 4306, 4308 and 4310 49 Avenue; 4402, 4404, 4406, 4408 and 4460 49 Avenue; 4907, 4909, 4911, 4913 and 4915 45 Street; and 4910, 4912, 4914 and 4916 44 Street will experience a scheduled power outage from approximately 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM. This outage is necessary to safely complete maintenance on the power line.
- May 21: Customers in Yellowknife at 4404 49 Avenue; 4909 45 Street; 4908 45 Street (Unit A); and properties at 4917, 4919 and 4921 45 Street, as well as 4918, 4920 and 4922 44 Street (including Unit A), will experience a scheduled power outage from approximately 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM. This outage is necessary to safely complete maintenance on the power line.
Know what you need
We encourage everyone to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. The Government of Canada's Get Prepared website has information on how you can stay ready for an outage, and what to keep handy in case you lose power for an extended period of time.
Preparing for Outages
What to do before a planned outage
- Follow Naka Power Utilities (NWT) on Facebook and/or X to be notified. We aim to notify customers three days in advance of any planned outages and post the information on our social media channels. Time permitting, our friendly team members may also hang outage details on doors for small outages. For larger planned outages, we advertise on the radio.
What to do during a planned outage
- Check Facebook and X for any updates. If you don’t think an outage is planned, please call and report it to our team.
- During an outage, you may be left without heat/air conditioning, lighting, hot water and use of electronic devices and appliances. Check our Outage Tips for information about preparing for and managing safely during an outage.
What to do after a planned outage
- Check to ensure your water circulation pump is working, if applicable.
- Plug in or turn on any appliances or electronics you disconnected prior to the outage.
- Check larger appliances like furnaces or fridges to ensure they are working.
- Reset digital clocks, alarm systems and other devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When do planned outages typically take place?
Maintenance occurs year-round; however, we plan most of our system upgrades during spring, summer and fall to minimize service disruptions in the winter. Whenever possible, we work live or “hot”, which enables customers to keep service while we complete maintenance.
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How long do planned outages last?
Our priority is to complete outage work as safely and efficiently as possible to minimize outage duration. Typically, power will not be out for more than 24 hours. However, depending on the scope of work, resources available or weather, outages may last longer.
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What kind of planning goes into scheduled outages?
We put a lot of care and attention into planning scheduled outages; planning period cycles range from a few days to many weeks prior to the outage and depend on factors such as work priority, resources and materials available, and bundling opportunities (fixing other assets during the outage). When planning these outages, our goal is to minimize service interruption and impact to customers.
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Why are some planned outages rescheduled or cancelled and will I be notified if this happens?
Sometimes, factors out of our control result in having to reschedule or cancel a planned outage. This could be due to factors like weather or an emergency outage that redeploys our materials and workers. If a planned outage in your area is rescheduled or cancelled, we will provide updates via our Facebook and X accounts. Please contact us if you have any questions.
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Why do planned outages take longer than expected?
Our priority is to minimize outage duration by completing outage work as safely and efficiently as possible. However, in rare instances, factors outside our control (such as weather or material issues) impact the duration of planned outages that causes them to last longer than originally scheduled.
Don't get left in the dark!
Follow along on Facebook and X (Twitter) to connect with us or to get updates on outages and other related information.