Related News
Related News
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Spring Cleaning? How about Spring Emergency Preparedness!
Spring is officially here and that means the plants are blooming, the sun is (sometimes) shining, and the grass is green! We've had our fair share of severe weather already, but spring weather is notoriously unpredictable. While you're in the midst of spring cleaning and garden care, consider completing these emergency preparedness tasks.
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EWEB General Manager Delivers 2024 State of the Utility
General Manager Frank Lawson delivered his address at the March 5 public Board of Commissioners meeting
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State of the McKenzie Watershed
EWEB’s Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) team says the McKenzie River continues to be an excellent source for drinking water.
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Nine days without power: My ice storm story as an EWEB customer and employee
While beautiful and peaceful, buying a home on the edge of the forest and surrounded by trees has its tradeoffs. Moving “upriver,” I knew there would be more threats to prepare for, including Mother Nature’s seasonal surprises.
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EWEB achieves power restoration milestone over the weekend
Crews have so far restored power for 92% of customers who originally lost power at the height of the ice storm.
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Reenergized McKenzie River Valley transmission lines allow EWEB crews to restore power upriver
On Friday, a majority of EWEB crews tackled power restoration efforts upriver, after federally managed transmission lines were reenergized Thursday.
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EWEB estimates one week to complete power system restoration
On Wednesday, EWEB crews restored power for about 10,000 customers by repairing large equipment first.
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Second round of ice and ensuing thaw prompt mass power outages
On Wednesday, all EWEB crews, who have been working nonstop since Saturday, traversed EWEB’s service territory assessing the damage and restoring transmission lines and main power feeders.
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Power restored at EWEB’s water treatment plant
Crews restored electric power at EWEB's Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant Monday evening, allowing operators to switch off the generators and rely again on the grid. Meanwhile, EWEB crews brace for additional outages amidst second round of ice and during the coming thaw.
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EWEB crews focusing on restoring electric service for Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant
With more ice forecasted for Tuesday, all EWEB crews are in the field assessing outages and restoring power.
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EWEB crews making downed lines safe and restoring power across Eugene and the foothills
As EWEB works to restore electric service to customers affected by the ice storm, the customer-owned utility is following established policies and its “hierarchy of repair” to prioritize repairs that restore electric service to the greatest number of customers.
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Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan
Plan details next steps through regulatory processes to begin dismantling Leaburg Dam by 2032.
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What’s ahead in 2024: General manager’s message to EWEB customer-owners
At the start of the new year, we back at accomplishments from 2023 and look ahead at what's to come in 2024.
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Start the New Year saving money with energy saving tips
We know that saving money is important to our customers. Using energy and water wisely is a great way to reduce your monthly utility bill, even as the costs of electricity and water rise. EWEB has several steps you can take to reduce your usage and even make your home feel more comfortable.
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Currin Substation: End of year update
EWEB Engineer Philip Peterson explains what's been happening in the final stretch to complete the substation rebuild.
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No Price Increase Again in 2021
January 13, 2021
EWEB's 2021 budget keeps prices steady once again, marking the fifth year in a row of no price increase for customers. The utility's budget of $331 million includes operation and maintenance of the electric and water systems that serve more than 200,000 people in Eugene and parts of Springfield and the McKenzie Valley, as well as customer bill assistance, energy efficiency incentives, school grants, drinking water source protection, and renewable energy programs.
"This past year has been difficult for our community, and I'm pleased that EWEB is able to deliver on our promise to bring affordable power and water to our customer-owners," said EWEB General Manager Frank Lawson. "I'm proud of our staff who continue to work hard to keep costs down and operate efficiently even as new challenges arise."
EWEB's residential electric rate will remain at 9.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2021, keeping it competitive with other northwest electric utility rates and below the national average of 13.6 cents/kWh.
Electric and water prices for EWEB customers have not increased since 2016.
Although economic conditions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced utility revenue, we have been able to maintain sustainable spending levels by reducing costs, refinancing debt, increasing efficiencies, and reprioritizing select capital projects.
Investing in our community
While customer prices have remained steady for six out of the last seven years, we've continued to invest in energy efficiency incentives, bill assistance programs, and infrastructure projects for improved reliability. Last year, we expanded payment assistance programs to allow more customers to qualify and delivered over $1.5 million in bill assistance to more than 5,000 customers, many of whom suffered pandemic-related job losses. Spending in 2021 to support a new customer portal and meter infrastructure upgrades will improve the customer experience and help EWEB respond more effectively to water leaks and power outages. The 2021 budget also includes funding for emergency water stations to provide potable water in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
The 2021 infrastructure spending levels of $51 million for electric and $21 million for water are part of 10-year planned investments of $335 million (electric) and $244 million (water) respectively. As we move forward, we will work with the EWEB Board of Commissioners to understand the benefits and impacts of further expanding our infrastructure investments.
"We continue to be guided by our core values to provide safe and reliable drinking water and electricity, be responsible stewards of resources, and adhere to our commitment to serve our local community," said Frank Lawson. "The 2021 budgets position EWEB to maintain financial resiliency, rise to whatever challenges 2021 may bring, and continue efforts to enhance customer confidence."
*While water prices for EWEB customers remained flat, our wholesale water customers such as the city of Veneta and the River Road and Santa Clara Water Districts saw a slight increase in 2020 and a slight decrease in 2021.
**Tualatin Valley Water District serves Beaverton, portions of Hillsboro and Tigard.