Across southern Oregon, more and more utility customers are getting hooked up with power after heavy snowstorms last month caused massive outages. KLCC’s Brian Bull has this update.
Nearly two weeks after the storms, EPUD and Lane Electric Cooperative say they expect to have power mostly restored to their remaining customers by the weekend. EWEB has 77 residences left to go, nearly half in the McKenzie River Valley. And Douglas Electric Cooperative spokesman Todd Munsey says crews are working hard to get the lights back on for about a third of its 9,600 customers.
“Honestly, we try to underestimate and over deliver, and get them back on before we say they’re going to be back on…but we want at least be close," he tells KLCC.
"And that’s a challenge right now, as we start going from transmission and distribution feeders, down into individual residences.”
Munsey adds the last worst storm caused $300,000 worth of damage to Douglas Electric’s system. But this one is currently ringing in at $6 million. Like many other utilities affected by last month's heavy snowstorms, Douglas Electric Cooperatives is hoping the federal government approves Governor Kate Brown's emergency declaration to FEMA funds may compensate 75 percent of their damage costs.
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
