CROSS LAKE / WINNIPEG – INDIGENOUS NEWS UPDATE – Manitoba Hydro crews are reporting significant progress in restoring electrical service to Cross Lake/Pimicikamak Cree Nation, following a major outage that began late Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The outage was caused by a break in a transmission line crossing the Nelson River, which severed the main power supply to the community.
Thanks to favourable weather conditions, helicopters have been able to continue transporting repair crews and equipment to the remote site, where work on the damaged line is proceeding efficiently.
Full Restoration Expected by Wednesday Evening
Manitoba Hydro has confirmed it is on track to fully restore power by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, barring any unforeseen complications.
“We know how difficult this situation has been for the community and its members,” said Hal Turner, Chief Operating Officer of Manitoba Hydro.
“Work is progressing well on the restoration efforts, and no further revisions to our estimated time of restoration are expected at this point.”
Emergency Support for Essential Services
To support essential infrastructure during the outage, Manitoba Hydro deployed a generator to restore operations at the community’s water treatment plant, which is now back online.
In addition, eight large space heaters and additional portable generators have been supplied for use at the discretion of Pimicikamak leadership, helping residents stay safe during the power disruption.
Strong Coordination with Community Leaders
Hydro officials are maintaining frequent communication with Cross Lake’s leadership, providing updates and responding to questions and concerns from community members.
“Our employees and local support staff are continuing their efforts to repair the line as safely and as quickly as possible,” said Turner, noting that daylight hours are essential for safely completing repairs in remote terrain.
“We thank the community for their patience and understanding as we work through this difficult repair.”
Manitoba Hydro has not reported any further technical challenges as of the latest update.
In Summary:
Manitoba Hydro expects full power restoration to Cross Lake/Pimicikamak by Dec. 31 after transmission line break.
