Contacts:

Lance Robertson (through noon Saturday): 954-7509 (cell); 984-4716 (message)

John Mitchell (Saturday afternoon): 954-7528 (cell); 341-8539 (message)

Wind storm outage update

Eugene Water & Electric Board crews continue to restore power to as many as 7,000 customers still without electricity as of 11 p.m. Friday night. EWEB likely will not have an updated customer outage count until mid to late afternoon Saturday, and at the same time Sunday.

Here are some recent developments or announcements:

• Two more Portland General Electric crews arrived Saturday, joining six PGE crews (3-4 people in each crew) that arrived Friday to help EWEB restore power. EWEB has six crews. A Bonneville Power Administration Crew also arrived Saturday to help EWEB.
• Icy roads early Saturday contributed to two traffic accidents in which vehicles struck power poles and caused at least one minor outage.
• EWEB expects to replace 20 damaged power poles today.
• Three larger distribution lines have been restored in the McKenzie River Valley, where most of EWEB's 3,000 to 4,000 customers have been without power. Restoration of those major lines is a big step toward getting power back on up the McKenzie.
• Customers still without power should visually inspect their outside "weatherhead" and meter base. The weatherhead is the point where overhead wires connect to the home. If there is damage, customers should call a licensed electrician to inspect and repair.
• Residents are urged not to cross barricades or yellow tape in areas where crews are working. Those barriers were erected for a reason. There may be live wires or other hazards present that pose a danger to citizens.
• If you still are without power by Saturday afternoon, call EWEB's outage hotline at 484-2300 every four to five hours and report that you still don't have power.