Five Things to Know About Power Restoration

February 26, 2019 at 9 a.m.

Why It Could Take a Week or More

Emerald People's Utility District (EPUD) estimates it may take a week or longer to restore power to many of our customers. To understand why, it’s helpful to have some background about the damage in the field.

Five Things to Know

EPUD receives electricity on transmission lines from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and PacifiCorp. The utility then delivers this electricity to our customers using our own local poles and wires.
This was a two-punch storm: First, it took down transmission lines managed by BPA and PacifiCorp. Second, it took down local poles and wires that directly serve our customers.
While some BPA and PacifiCorp transmission lines have been restored, others remain out of service. It may take multiple days to fully repair this transmission service, with workers from as far away as Seattle being called in to make repairs.
In the meantime, EPUD is making local repairs to areas that do have transmission service. EPUD crews are also addressing downed lines and safety issues as a top priority.
Once transmission lines are fully restored, EPUD crews can further assess local damage, continue repairs, and restore service to our customers.

”We know this is hard on our customers. We hear their concerns. We have five outside crews working with us. We are restoring power as safely and quickly as we can,” said Patty Jo Angelini, EPUD public relations coordinator.

Emerald PUD is a not‐for‐profit electric utility formed in 1978 by a small group of local citizens who wanted better, customer‐oriented service at the lowest possible rates. Today EPUD serves more than 20,000 meters in Lane County, Oregon.