EWEB: Some power lines will stay on wildfire settings
3 min read
from Aaron Orlowski, Eugene Water & Electric Board, and staff reports
The Eugene Water & Electric Board will keep power lines in neighborhoods at higher risk for wildfire on “wildfire safety settings” for the rest of the fire season.
The fire season lasts until the autumn wetting rains begin—usually in late September or early October.
Wildfire safety settings cause power lines to operate at higher sensitivity to reduce the chance of a potential spark during times when a fire is more likely to start and spread. Monitoring equipment shuts off power if a problem is sensed, such as a tree branch tapping a power line.
Under these settings, EWEB will not re-energize the lines until crews visually patrol the line and confirm it’s safe to operate. This may result in more frequent and prolonged outages during wildfire season.
Approximately 10% of EWEB customers — primarily in the South Hills and Southwest Hills — are served by these circuits and may experience more frequent and longer outages than they would under normal operating conditions.
The area selected for these wildfire safety settings was based on an expert assessment using updated fire modeling information that will inform the utility’s next wildfire mitigation plan.
These settings will remain in place for the remainder of the fire season — an investment in resiliency during a high-risk season.
“This season is especially dry and hot, and we take this seriously with close monitoring and thoughtful actions to reduce risk,” said EWEB Electric Operations Manager Tyler Nice.
“These operational settings are an important layer of public safety protection during fire season. They reduce the risk of ignitions from electric equipment, but they come with the potential for more frequent and longer outages for some customers. We know this is impactful and we will work to restore outages as quickly and safely as possible for the community,” he said.
One red flag warning has already been issued in Eugene this fire season. The National Weather Service issued the warning for Monday, Aug. 3 due to gusty winds and low relative humidities—the dry and dangerous conditions that could spark fast-running wildfires.
The warning period concluded with no reported incidents or major power interruptions. EWEB will continue to monitor weather conditions and fire risk the rest of this summer. Should conditions worsen, EWEB will take action.
Preparedness is a responsibility shared by the whole community. EWEB encourages customers to prepare for wildfires by:
- Signing up for alerts at LaneAlerts.org
- Connecting with your neighborhood’s emergency preparedness team
- Maintaining emergency supplies
- Reviewing family emergency plans
- Staying informed about weather conditions and potential power outages.
Customers can learn more about EWEB’s wildfire response at eweb.org/wildfire.
About the Eugene Water & Electric Board
The Eugene Water & Electric Board is Oregon’s largest customer-owned utility. Founded in 1911 (as the nation thrilled to the hit songs, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” and “Down By The Old Mill Stream”), EWEB today provides water and electricity to approximately 200,000 in the Eugene area, including major institutions such as the University of Oregon.
A five-member elected Board of Commissioners governs the utility, which does not operate to earn a profit or to serve the investment needs of stockholders. Current members include: John Barofsky (Wards 2, 3), John Brown (Wards 4, 5), Sonya Carlson (Wards 6, 7), Tim Morris (Wards 8, 1), and Mindy Schlossberg (all wards).
Employing approximately 600 people, EWEB serves the people of Eugene by embodying core values of safety, reliability, affordability, environmental responsibility and community/culture. EWEB owns four energy generation facilities, including hydroelectric projects on the McKenzie and Clackamas Rivers, and leads watershed protection measures with local landowners and environmental organizations.
With one of the greenest energy supplies in the nation, approximately 90% of EWEB’s power comes from carbon-free sources, and EWEB is committed to achieving a 95% carbon-free energy portfolio by 2030.
