Electricity Supply Planning helps utilities understand the resources, technology, and infrastructure that will be needed to meet customers' future electricity needs. 

EWEB's ongoing Electricity Supply Planning effort is aimed at optimizing our power resources, assets, infrastructure, and customer products and services so that we can continue to serve our community with clean, affordable and reliable power, consistent with the values of our customer-owners.

We are exploring questions such as:

• How will the demand for electricity change over time?
• What risks does EWEB need to plan for and mitigate?
• What products and services will customers expect?
• What investments are needed?
• How can we partner with others across the region to optimize the interconnected electric grid?

Electrification Impact Study

In early 2020, EWEB initiated a study of the impacts of widespread electrification on our community. In this study, EWEB will hypothesize various electrification scenarios and assess potential impacts to power supply, demand, local infrastructure, and community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Electrification is a term for replacing direct fossil fuel use (e.g., natural gas, heating oil, gasoline) with electricity in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The study aims to answer five questions:

1. How might legislation and local ordinances impact the rate of electrification in Eugene?
2. How could widespread electrification impact local electricity demand and consumption patterns?
3. What impact would electrification have on EWEB's power system (generation, transmission, distribution, etc.)?
4. What role might energy efficiency and demand-side flexibility play in mitigating challenging outcomes of mass electrification?
5. What are the potential costs, benefits, and impacts of various electrification futures?

The electrification study will be completed in phases, with Phase 1 focusing on potential changes to demand and consumption patterns, generation needs, and environmental impacts from electrification of small vehicles, water and space heating. A first draft for Phase 1 was completed in July 2020. Phase 2 of the study will focus on infrastructure, costs and influence of energy efficiency and demand-side flexibility, and is targeted for completion in early 2021.

Key Findings of Phase 1 Preliminary Draft Report

Adoption rates for electric vehicles, space heating and water heating are subject to wide bands of uncertainty with economics, technology and legislation among key factors influencing customer choices.

This preliminary draft study finds:

1. Absent legislative action or dramatic economic changes driving consumer behavior towards electrification, average electric energy loads will increase at a manageable pace in the next five years. 
2. Early analysis indicates that resulting carbon reductions are meaningful and enhanced with energy efficient technology choices, and these benefits can be improved if peak demand is managed.  
3. Electric Vehicles represent a significant carbon reduction opportunity and load impact compared to space and water heating. 
4. The EWEB transmission and distribution system is forecasted to maintain adequate capacity and ability to meet the increased demand of electrification in the near term. 

Read the preliminary draft report.

Public Involvement

Creating our energy future is a team sport! We invite you to stay informed and involved by:

• Checking this website for updates
• Signing up to receive news and updates via email
• Attending EWEB Board of Commissioners meetings
• Watching EWEB communications for updates and public meeting announcements

Meetings and Events