Crews Working Throughout Night to Restore Power

Pacific Power is encouraging customers to continue to be prepared for intensive weather and outages through late Monday.

Power lines were knocked out all over Oregon by the storm, and the worst may not be over yet. File photo courtesy: farm1.static.flickr.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Pacific Power crews are working diligently to restore storm-related outages along the Oregon coast, the mid-Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon and in other parts of the state. As of Sunday at 9:00 PM, approximately 27,354 customers still are without power, and crews are working around the clock to get power back on as quickly and safely as possible.

A major portion of the 115-kilovolt transmission line serving the northern Oregon coast has been repaired once and energized but was lost again at approximately 8:45 PM, again dramatically affecting Clatsop County.

A substation offline in Southern Oregon is affecting approximately 2,269 customers in the Medford area. Crews continue to be deployed throughout the Pacific Power customer area. However, the restoration operations at this point must be performed slowly so as to not cause further damage to the electric system.

Customers affected in Oregon, as of 9:00 PM:
Clatsop County: 18,680
Medford: 2,269
Lincoln City: 219, although telephone service/network is out so information may be inaccurate
Lebanon: 732
Coos Bay: 1,476
Roseburg: 1,192
Portland: 15
Total customers affected (includes other, scattered outages): 27,354

Pacific Power is encouraging customers to continue to be prepared for intensive weather and outages through late Monday, consistent with weather reports. Wind gusts of up to 101 miles have been recorded on the coast already and a new surge in the storm is predicted to occur within one to four hours.

As utility crews work to reenergize communities, customers are being asked to help ensure smooth restoration. Customers still without power can help by:

• Unplugging appliances, television and stereos and other electrical equipment around their homes. This will reduce the demand on the system as power is brought back on.
• Turning ON porch lights so crews can tell when power has been restored to particular areas
• Reporting outages again by calling 1-877 LITES OUT (1-877-548-3768)

Some areas may not be restored right away, and crews will be going house by house to assess problems. Some damage may be the customers' responsibility to repair, which may also delay restoration.

Pacific Power is also reminding customers to stay safe during power outages.

• Candles should never be left unattended or used for extended periods. Use a flashlight or other battery-powered lighting source.
• Use a fireplace or wood stove to keep warm. Pay careful attention to fire hazards. Never use kerosene or propane heaters inside without proper ventilation. They create dangerous fumes. Also, don't use charcoal in your house or garage.
• Never use a barbecue grill indoors. Cook over sterno cans.
• Dress warmly and in layers to insulate yourself. Don't forget to wear a hat. Blankets and towels around windows and doors help keep heat in.
• Check on your neighbors, especially those who may need special assistance. Also, check with others who may have electricity, to see if you can visit.
• Always assume downed lines are energized and deadly. Never go near them. Instead, call Pacific Power.

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