EWEB to maintain wildfire safety settings for South Eugene neighborhoods for the remainder of the summer
EWEB will keep power lines in neighborhoods at higher risk for wildfire on “wildfire safety settings” for the rest of the summer. Depending on conditions, this typically lasts until late September or early October.
Wildfire safety settings cause power lines to operate at higher sensitivity to reduce the chance of a potential spark during times when a fire is more likely to start and spread. Monitoring equipment shuts off power if a problem is sensed, such as a tree branch tapping a power line.
Under these settings, EWEB will not re-energize the lines until crews visually patrol the line and confirm it’s safe to operate. This may result in more frequent and prolonged outages during wildfire season.
Approximately 10% of EWEB customers — primarily in the South Hills and Southwest Hills — are served by these circuits and may experience more frequent and longer outages than they would under normal operating conditions. The area selected for these wildfire safety settings was based on an expert assessment using updated fire modeling information that will inform the utility’s next Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
These settings will remain in place for the remainder of the fire season — an investment in resiliency during a high-risk season.
“This season is especially dry and hot, and we take this seriously with close monitoring and thoughtful actions to reduce risk,” said EWEB Electric Operations Manager Tyler Nice. “These operational settings are an important layer of public safety protection during fire season. They reduce the risk of ignition from electrical equipment, but they also increase the likelihood of more frequent and longer outages for some customers. We know this is impactful, and we will work to restore outages as quickly and safely as possible for the community.”
Last week, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds and dry conditions that could spark fires. The warning concluded with no reported incidents or major power interruptions. However, EWEB will continue to monitor weather conditions and fire risk for the remainder of the summer and take action when conditions worsen.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and EWEB encourages customers to remain prepared for wildfire season by maintaining emergency supplies, reviewing family emergency plans, and staying informed about weather conditions and potential power outages.
Related Programs
Wildfire safety and prevention
Community wildfire prevention is increasingly important as climate, drought and a host of other issues are converging—resulting in more frequent and damaging wildfire events.
Public Safety Power Shutoff
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) means EWEB will proactively shut off power in high-risk areas during extreme and dangerous weather until conditions improve.
Power outages
Need-to-know information during a power event. Find links to our outage map and don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest news.
