Alberta power outages affected thousands of customers across central and northern parts of the province on Wednesday after strong winds damaged electricity infrastructure and disrupted services in several communities.
FortisAlberta and ATCO outage maps showed hundreds of confirmed and unconfirmed interruptions during the afternoon and evening, including major outages near Athabasca, Boyle, Lac La Biche and parts of the Edmonton region.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued wind warnings across a broad area of central and northern Alberta on October 14, with gusts reaching as high as 90 km/h and conditions expected to weaken later in the evening.
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Alberta Power Outages: Thousands affected across central and northern Alberta
Near Athabasca, about 6,250 FortisAlberta customers were reported without power during the height of the outages, while 1,788 customers in Boyle also lost service.
A further 1,946 customers east of Boyle toward Lac La Biche were affected, according to outage information reported Wednesday evening.
Smaller interruptions were recorded in communities and rural areas including St. Albert, Stony Plain, Miquelon Lake, Devon, Wabamun Lake and Lake Isle.
ATCO also reported outages affecting customers near Kinuso, on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake, and near Wapiti south of Grande Prairie.
Some customers had power restored Wednesday evening, including roughly 2,000 customers in the Strathcona County area near Cooking Lake.
Restoration times can change as crews inspect lines, poles and other equipment.
FortisAlberta says additional damage may be discovered after crews reach an affected area, potentially changing estimated restoration times.
Advance voting disrupted by outage
The weather also interrupted advance voting for Alberta’s upcoming referendum.
Elections Alberta said a high-wind-related outage closed the Athabasca Seniors Centre in Athabasca and the returning office at 4714 50 Street in Clyde at about 2 p.m. on October 14.
Voting materials, ballot boxes and ballots were secured, and notices were posted at both locations.
The agency said the sites would reopen once electricity was restored and remain open after 8 p.m. for the same amount of time they had been closed.
Elections Alberta advised affected voters to return when the locations reopened and said further updates would be provided if circumstances changed.
What residents should do during an outage
Residents without power should first check their breaker panel and then consult their utility’s outage map before reporting the interruption.
- FortisAlberta customers can report outages by calling 310-WIRE, or 9473.
- Edmonton customers should check EPCOR’s outage map and report emergencies through the utility.
- Customers in ATCO Electric’s service territory can use the company’s outage map and My ATCO Electricity app for updates.
People should stay away from downed power lines and keep at least 10 metres away from them.
Downed lines should be treated as live and reported to the local utility.
Alberta’s emergency-preparedness guidance recommends keeping enough food, water, medication, lighting and backup power supplies to manage for at least 72 hours.
Generators, barbecues and camp stoves must never be used indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
When power returns, residents should leave appliances unplugged, turn the main power back on if it is safe, wait 15 minutes for the system to stabilize and then reconnect essential devices gradually.
Further outages remain possible
The wind warnings issued Wednesday covered areas including Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Athabasca, Westlock, Barrhead, Slave Lake, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville and several central Alberta communities.
Environment Canada warned that high-sided vehicles could be pushed around and advised residents to secure loose objects and prepare for possible disruptions to transportation, services and utilities.
Residents should continue checking official utility outage maps and Alberta emergency alerts for local restoration information, particularly in rural areas where damage may take longer to assess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were there power outages across Alberta?
Strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h in parts of central and northern Alberta, damaged or affected electricity infrastructure.
Which Alberta communities were affected?
Reported outages included areas near Athabasca, Boyle, Lac La Biche, Edmonton, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Kinuso and Grande Prairie.
Did the outages affect voting?
Yes. A power outage temporarily closed advance voting locations at the Athabasca Seniors Centre and the returning office in Clyde on October 14, 2026.
How can Alberta residents report a power outage?
FortisAlberta customers can call 310-WIRE. Edmonton customers should use EPCOR’s outage map and emergency contact system, while ATCO customers should use ATCO’s outage map or app.
What should people do if they see a downed power line?
Stay at least 10 metres away, keep others away and report the line to the local utility. Treat every downed line as energized.
Fact-Checked: Key outage, wind-warning and voting-disruption details were checked against Elections Alberta, Environment Canada, Alberta government and utility information.
Disclaimer: Restoration times and outage locations can change quickly, so residents should rely on their utility’s latest outage map and official emergency alerts.