Overview

• A high-voltage switch failure in a substation caused a cascading power outage across Saskatoon's north, east, west, and central areas on Tuesday afternoon.
• The outage began at approximately 1:40 p.m. CST and was fully resolved by 4:30 p.m. after phased restoration efforts by Saskatoon Light and Power crews.
• Traffic disruptions occurred citywide as non-functional traffic lights led to significant delays, particularly on major routes like University Drive and Circle Drive.
• Several Saskatoon Public Schools sent students home early, while hospitals like City Hospital and Idylwyld Medical Centre operated on backup power systems without reported emergencies.
• Utility officials confirmed the outage was not weather-related and described it as a rare event, with investigations ongoing to determine the exact cause of the switch failure.