Winter Is Coming! Be Prepared for Outages
Dear Members,
It is mid-November as I write this, and our warm, sunny fall weather has already given way to our first atmospheric river followed by subfreezing temperatures. The windstorm a few weeks ago reminded us that winter weather can cause outages affecting your electric and internet service.
When storms cause multiple outages, we prioritize our response to restore outages affecting the largest numbers of customers first. Sometimes, we need to quickly de-energize additional lines to safely complete repairs or to minimize equipment damage. Your patience and understanding during the repair process are greatly appreciated.
Our team members who answer outage calls usually do not have information about the causes of specific outages or know when repairs will be completed. Our repair priorities may change with evolving conditions or events.
When outages are widespread, call takers need to keep conversations brief. Please be prepared to provide your name, address and phone number. It’s also helpful to know if you have seen trees on lines, broken wires or other potential outage causes. If you see a downed line, stay at least 50 feet away, keep others away and call (541) 354-1233 immediately to report it. Downed lines can be energized even if they look harmless.
Our crews work as quickly as safety allows to restore your service. They work long hours in all conditions, but even so, restoration during major storms can sometimes take a few days. That’s why we encourage you to prepare in advance. A home emergency kit can help you and your family stay safe and comfortable while we complete our repair work. To learn about preparing for winter weather and possible outages, visit our Outage Preparation page.
Safely restoring your service is our highest priority when storms hit. Rest assured, our crews are ready to answer the call if the need arises. Let’s all hope for a trouble-free and enjoyable winter season!
Libby Calnon
General Manager