When there is a high risk for a wildfire, we may temporarily shut off power to certain neighborhoods to prevent our electric system from becoming the source of an ignition. As each weather situation is unique, we work closely with other agencies such as Lane County Emergency Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Forestry, and carefully review a combination of factors when deciding if power must be turned off, including:

• Red Flag Warning - Declared by National Weather Service
• High Wind Forecast - Sustained winds over 20 mph and gusts above 30 mph
• Wind-Related Outages - An indication of falling branches and/or downed power lines
• Low Humidity Levels - Generally 20 percent and below
• Dry Material on the Ground - Can quickly ignite sparks
• Situational Awareness - Real-time observations by crews in the field

We realize this proactive approach of preemptively shutting off power can present challenges, especially for those who live in rural areas and rely on electric pumps for wells. If your power has been shut off, we will restore power as soon as the conditions permit, and crews have inspected the system to confirm it is safe to re-energize power lines.