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Questions and answers
Why can't you tell me specifically when my power will be restored?
It is very difficult to pinpoint, exactly, how long a repair will take, especially in large outages requiring days to restore all power. Once an outage is reported, a troubleshooter is sent to assess the problem. Sometimes the troubleshooter can fix the problem, but in many larger outages, a full crew must be dispatched.
In large, multiple-day outages, it is virtually impossible for the Eugene Water & Electric Board to determine in advance exactly when a crew will arrive in a specific area of town to repair damage. Even after damage is prioritized and a crew is assigned, crews often do not know how long a repair will take until they arrive on the scene and fully assess the damage.
My neighbors have power but I don't. Why is that?
Your neighbor may be served by a different transformer, feeder line or tap line. There may also be a problem with the individual line serving your home or business.
What happens if my meter base, weatherhead or conduit is damaged?
The meter base, weatherhead and conduit (pipe) belong to the property owner. If they are damaged or pulled off the side of the building, you will need to call a licensed electrician for repairs before EWEB can restore your power.
When I was out of power, I saw an EWEB truck drive by. Why didn't it stop?
The truck is checking the electric system in your area, looking for any problems with the overhead lines that may have caused the outage. The cause of the outage may not be on your street. It can actually be several streets away.
What is EWEB doing to prevent outages from occurring?
EWEB has a five-year capital plan that includes maintaining and upgrading our electric system to increase reliability. When a troubleshooter responds to an outage as part of the restoration, he or she takes proactive measures such as installing animal guards or reporting needed tree trimming. We also have contract crews that work year-round to keep the trees trimmed.
Aren’t power lines insulated?
The overhead wires you typically see on city streets and neighborhoods at the top of the poles are usually bare wire and are not insulated. “Service drops,” which carry power from the pole to your home, are often insulated. However, they should be treated as dangerous because insulation can become worn, exposing bare wire.
Why aren’t birds electrocuted when they sit on power lines?
A bird sitting on a line does not complete a path to ground. Electricity passes harmlessly through the line without causing injury. If the bird were to touch the ground or some part of the system that is grounded, the bird would be electrocuted.
What about squirrels? Don’t they cause a lot of outages?
Yes. Squirrels often jump onto transformers, then try to climb up onto the connecting wires. Because they are touching the transformer and the wire at the same time, they become grounded and often cause an outage.
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