Pacific Power explains safety system behind recent power outages across Bend
Claire Elmer
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With multiple power outages affecting thousands of Bend residents in recent weeks, some are becoming worried – not just about inconvenience, but about what they call a lack of both communication and balance from their power company.
KTVZ News spoke with Bend resident, Mark Mariotti, who has recently experienced two two-hour outages within one week. “I’m really concerned of what the future is going to be like. You would think Pacific Power would be concerned about that too,” said Mariotti.
We reached out to Pacific Power who said these outages are not planned shut-offs, but automatic responses triggered by their ‘enhanced safety settings’.
The safety system is designed to shut off power instantly when wildlife, vegetation, or high winds interfere with power lines – especially in areas flagged as elevated wildfire risk by their meteorology team.
Questions about the system’s sensitivity has come into question for some customers. “Maybe they’ve gone too far on the spectrum where they’re shutting off power when it really didn’t need to be,” said Mariotti.
Pacific Power says these safety settings help prevent wildfires, and that customers were informed via email before fire season that outages could become more frequent.
They say they’re also working to reduce how often they happen and how long they last.
Simon Gutierrez, spokesperson for Pacific Power, told KTVZ, “The safety of our customers and communities is our top priority. Pacific Power continues to focus on wildfire prevention while balancing reliability. We know that power outages are truly a hardship and we strive to provide safe, reliable power to our customers.”
“We all want to prevent fires. But we need a balance, some kind of a common sense,” said Mariotti.
Pacific Power urges you to contact customer service if you need support or backup. They do offer assistance programs available for those with medical conditions that require power.
Still, some feel more transparency is needed – especially when danger isn’t necessarily visible, and automated messages are delayed.
“With no communication at all other than the automated responses from Pacific Power, what do I do? I think communication really paves the future way. You need to be able to understand,” said Mariotti.
As wildfire risk remains across Central Oregon, Pacific Power says safety will remain the priority – even if that means more frequent outages.
You are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for an outage. Contact your power company to seek their assistance in solutions for you and your home.
For more information from Pacific Power on their wildfire safety systems, you can visit their dedicated site here.