Each day, keeping the lights on is about careful planning, constant monitoring, and coordination across our system. But sometimes, we face extraordinary circumstances; like those Newfoundlanders and Labradorians experienced in January 2026.

During one of the coldest stretches of the winter, and for the first time in history, frazil ice formed in the intakes of our Bay d’Espoir Hydroelectric Generating Station. The result was the loss of 604 megawatts of generation – power that represents a significant portion of what we rely on to serve customers on cold winter days. With Bay d’Espoir offline, our province’s electricity system was suddenly under immense pressure.

Because our System Operators are always closely monitoring conditions across our system, they could see early on that projected electricity demand, combined with the loss of generation, could become a serious issue.

As soon as the risk became clear our operators worked with critical teams across the organization to activate our Advance Notification Protocol, first issuing a Power Watch to ensure customers tuned in to the potential issue, and then escalating to a Power Warning, requesting that customers conserve electricity.

The protocol is designed to give customers timely, transparent information about our province’s power supply status. Activating the protocol ensured customers were informed and able to prepare, while our teams worked around the clock to stabilize the system and avoid power interruption.

Clear Alerts, Shared Understanding

Our Advance Notification Protocol includes three alert levels, each designed to clearly communicate the province’s power supply status. The goal is simple: to help Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand what’s happening on the electricity system and what it could mean for them. We also share related content including conservation tips for residents, businesses and EV drivers as well as safety and preparedness information.

By sharing what’s happening behind the scenes – often in real time – we help customers feel informed, prepared, and connected to the system that powers their daily lives.

Because when conditions are challenging, information matters. Keeping customers informed is just as important as keeping the power flowing .

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Check out the other stories in this series:

Frazil Ice and our Power System: The trouble with frazil

Frazil Ice and the Power System: How our teams respond in the NLSO

Frazil Ice and the Power System: The behind-the-scenes role of Energy Marketing and RPP