July 16, 2019
Media hotline: 1-800-570-5838 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
System upgrades at Merlin substation require short-term planned outage
Overnight work will cut power to 6,000 customers July 18-19
Merlin, Ore. –Approximately 6,000 Pacific Power customers in the Merlin area will experience an electricity outage between 10 p.m. Thursday, July 18 and 2 a.m. Friday, July 19 to allow the addition of a new electrical circuit to the Merlin substation which will improve reliability. The planned outage is to complete system upgrades that cannot be done without de-energizing the substation.
Pacific Power has directly notified customers who will be affected.
The outage will affect the general Merlin area north of Grants Pass, including Galice, Merlin, Hugo, Colonial Valley, and Pleasant Valley to Winona on both sides of I-5. Major roads in the area include Pleasant Valley Road, the northern part of Monument Drive, Jump Off Joe Creek, Hugo Road, Galice Road, Robertson Bridge Road, the northern part of Azalea Drive and Pickett Creek Road.
This planned outage was originally scheduled for late May, but was postponed due to high heat.
“Pacific Power appreciates the understanding of our customers during this inconvenience necessary to allow our crews to upgrade our system,” said Christina Kruger, regional business manager. “The work has been ongoing and at this point Pacific Power needs to shut off power temporarily to safely add a new circuit to the substation for additional service reliability. We have timed the outage to minimize inconvenience to our customers.”
Customers may want to use a battery-operated clock or a cell phone alarm and charge mobile devices in advance. For questions about the planned outage, customers can call Pacific Power toll free at 1-888-221-7070. Any outages during that time outside the affected area should continue to be reported to Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Hotline: 1-800-570-5838
July 3, 2019
Pacific Power to host wildfire safety and preparedness open houses for Medford, Grants Pass and Roseburg
Pacific Power, local emergency services and Oregon Department of Forestry representatives will share information for keeping homes and communities safe this season
PORTLAND, Ore. — As part of its ongoing efforts to prepare customers and communities for this year’s wildfire season, Pacific Power is hosting three wildfire safety and preparedness open houses for Southern Oregon next week. Representatives from local emergency services agencies, Oregon Department of Forestry and Pacific Power will be on hand to share information about their wildfire mitigation plans and provide information to help area residents prepare at home.
“With wildfires becoming more frequent and intense throughout our region, we all need to take extra steps to ensure the safety of our homes and our communities,” said Scott Bolton, senior vice president, Pacific Power. “We are working together with our community partners to ensure that together we are ready, and we are prepared.”
During the open house events, customers can talk with experts from local agencies and Pacific Power to ask questions and learn practical steps they can take at home to prepare, such as managing vegetation and putting together an emergency plan. Information will also be available about Pacific Power’s Public Safety Power Shutoff plans, which could be used this year during times of extreme wildfire danger.
Grants Pass Open House – Tuesday, July 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Taprock Event Center, 971 SE 6th St., in Grants Pass.
Roseburg Open House – Wednesday, July 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Douglas County Fairgrounds, Cascade Hall, 2110 Frear St., in Roseburg.
Medford Open House – Thursday, July 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 2250 Biddle Road in Medford.
Customers seeking additional information on wildfire safety preparedness are encouraged to call 866-869-8520 or visit pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety.
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Pacific Power media hotline: June 25, 2019
1-800-570-5838 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pacific Power helps customers ready for 2019 wildfire season
New information resources available as part of statewide wildfire safety and mitigation efforts
PORTLAND, Ore. — With wildfires becoming more frequent and intense in the West, Pacific Power is adding new safety measures and system enhancements throughout the state to help protect the communities it serves, and to provide safe, reliable power. Starting this week, Pacific Power is launching a wildfire safety and preparedness education effort with new resources to help customers stay safe this wildfire season.
“Our wildfire planning is multifaceted and covers many aspects from vegetation management to increasing our weather forecasting capabilities” said David Lucas, vice president of transmission and distribution operations. “But we’re not alone in this. The entire West is grappling with how to prepare for a time when we’re seeing the threat of catastrophic wildfires on the rise. Thankfully there are preventative measures we all can take to help reduce risks and stay safe this summer.
The following resources are available to help customers prepare and know what to do, should a wildfire become a threat in their area.
Awareness campaign
Beginning today, radio, print and social media ads will appear across Pacific Power service areas to help customers know what they can do to prepare for wildfire season and what Pacific Power is doing to be ready.
Wildfire information web page
Pacific Power’s updated, educational website (www.pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety) provides specific tips on how to prepare and stay safe this wildfire season, along with information about Public Safety Power Shutoffs that could take place in certain regions.
Community events
Pacific Power will be hosting a series of community open houses for customers to learn more about the energy provider’s comprehensive wildfire mitigation plans and Public Safety Power Shutoff measure. Experts will be on hand to answer questions.
Special notice for customers in Public Safety Power Shutoff Regions
This season a Public Safety Power Shutoff may be used in areas of high wildfire risk that Pacific Power will deploy only when extreme weather and catastrophic wildfire conditions warrant. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are expected to be a rare occurrence, and conducted in a way that impacts as few customers as possible.
Pacific Power has more information about Public Safety Power Shutoffs on its website at www.pacificpower.net/wildfiresafety. Here, customers can find details on what would prompt a Public Safety Power Shutoff, maps identifying regions at higher risk of wildfire, and information for customers with medical equipment or life support systems to self-identify with Pacific Power for additional emergency notifications and outreach prior to a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Wildfire preparation tips
Additionally, Pacific Power offers these tips to prepare this season.