PORTLAND, Ore. — After shutting off power for tens of thousands of customers on Friday due to the threat of high winds and extreme wildfire conditions, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power announced Saturday that they were turning the lights back on.
A Pacific Power spokesman said power had been gradually restored to all impacted customers over the course of the day, and PGE said in a news release Saturday evening that restoration efforts were underway in all 10 of its safety-related shutoff zones.
PGE said it started the restoration with 5,365 PGE customers in the Southern West Hills, where conditions had been normal since early Saturday. No repairs were needed, allowing power to be turned on for some customers, PGE said.
Restoration efforts then turned to another 9,385 customers in the Scotts Mills, Central West Hills, North West Hills, Tualatin Mountain and Silver Falls areas, where PGE crews had to wait to see if conditions were safe.
Some of the power shutoff areas remained in place in the afternoon due to continuing strong wind gusts, but as of 7 p.m. PGE said work was underway to restore power in all affected areas.
Full restoration times are available on the Portland General webpage.
Pacific Power said improved weather conditions Saturday morning allowed it to send out personnel to begin patrolling lines to perform safety checks, clear vegetation debris and repair minor wind damage. Power was reconnected section by section over the course of the day.
The five community resource centers placed by PGE will remain in place. Residents who still don't have power can visit the trailers to charge their phones and laptops, use the bathroom and to pick up ice and water. They're slated to remain open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day until power is fully restored in all areas:
- Welches Elementary School, 24901 E Salmon River Rd, Welches
- Estacada Baptist Church, 29101 SE Eagle Creek Rd, Estacada
- Silverton Safeway, 301 Westfield St, Silverton
- Banks Jim’s Thriftway, 12350 NW Main St, Banks
- Sheridan High School, 433 S Bridge St., Sheridan
- Firwood Elementary School, 42900 SE Trubel Rd, Sandy
