Medford, OR – Pacific Power announced that 97% of customers who lost power during this week’s winter storms in southern Oregon have had their service restored. Over 300 field crews and support staff have been working around the clock to repair the damage caused by snow accumulation and fallen trees, which knocked down power lines and damaged electrical equipment.
The utility company reported that its crews are focused on the hardest-hit areas, including the Medford, Grants Pass, and Klamath Falls districts. These regions have seen extensive damage, with more than 200 spans of downed power lines, broken utility poles, and other damaged infrastructure requiring repairs.
“We’ve seen outages due to snow accumulating on power lines, and even trees falling into the lines, which takes time to clear before repairs can begin,” said Simon Gutierrez, spokesperson for Pacific Power. “Our crews are out there working as fast as safely possible to restore service to everyone.”
Although significant progress has been made, crews continue to battle difficult weather conditions. Snow is expected to persist in the area, which may cause additional outages and further complicate restoration efforts. Despite the challenges, Pacific Power remains hopeful that all customers will have their power back by Thursday evening.
In the hillside areas of Talent, tree and branch removal delayed some repairs earlier in the week, but Pacific Power has deployed additional crews to accelerate the recovery process. The company emphasized its commitment to restoring power quickly and safely for all its customers.
Pacific Power has also issued safety guidelines for those still without power. Customers are urged to stay clear of downed power lines and report them immediately to 911 and the company’s emergency line. They are also advised to prepare for extended outages by ensuring they have flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food on hand. The utility company encourages residents to stay informed about updates via social media, and to keep devices charged as best as possible.
With 97% of affected customers back online, Pacific Power is focused on resolving the remaining outages while continuing to manage the ongoing impact of the winter storms. Crews will remain on-site until the final repairs are made and power is restored to every customer.