Updated 2/7/24:
Special Message from SUB's General Manager, Jeff Nelson
Our Springfield community is still navigating the impacts of the ice storm. While SUB’s water, electric and telecommunications utility restoration process is in its final stages, SUB continues to engage with our community partners.
As with every significant event, SUB will be conducting an internal After Action report. The purpose of this report is to learn what went well and what could be improved. SUB will also be engaging with a third party to conduct an external review.
While the focus of SUB’s After Action report is to step through the utility's preparedness and restoration process, we will engage with agencies outside of SUB with the objective of improving community preparedness and response as well.
Customers and community members have raised concerns. Built into the review process is an opportunity for the public to share their experiences and thoughts, and more details on that will follow. The input will be valuable in moving through our lessons learned and the After Action reports will be made public once they are complete.
Thank you to our Springfield community.
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To restore power to customers as quickly as possible, SUB made emergency repairs to some areas of our system. Now that weather has stabilized, we are making additional repairs. In some cases, this will require temporarily shutting off power while those repairs are made.
Our goal is to provide notice, at times it may not be possible. We know this can be disruptive and we appreciate your patience as we work to repair our system after this devastating storm.
Repair Update:
As part of the post-storm restoration process, SUB is replacing a pole on 5th and Hayden Bridge Road. We expect the planned outage to last from 8:30 a.m. to 5 pm.
This will result in a temporary loss of power for about 200 customers north of Hayden Bridge Road to the river, and between Blackstone / 6th to Manor Drive.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to make permanent repairs to our system after this historic ice storm!
Electric Outage Updates
January 28, 2024
8:30 am UPDATE
Crews made significant progress yesterday, and we estimate that we have fewer than 150 customers remaining.IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that customers who do not have power call our outage line at 541-726-2395. We have a low call volume so you should be to get through very quickly.
PLEASE ALSO CALL if you have electric infrastructure debris that needs to be picked up.
SUB water crews are supporting our restoration efforts by clearing away storm-damaged electric materials. You can assist by letting us know where these materials are so we can schedule pick-up.
We expect all known outages, with the exception of the infrastructure projects noted in the list below, to be restored by the end of day tomorrow, January 29.
Areas needing additional work are listed below. Most are infrastructure projects that support SUB’s electric and fiber systems:
· I-5 crossing – estimated date of restoration February 2
· McKenzie River crossing – estimated date of restoration January 29
· Thurston Hills Natural area – TBD
· Quarry Hill – TBD
Thank you all again for your support and patience as we work on these final restorations!
January 27
9 a.m. UPDATE
Crews are now reconfigured into smaller teams and are repairing damage and restoring clusters of home and individual homes throughout the city.We continue to make progress and were able to cut the number of customers without power by about half yesterday.We currently estimate that about 500 homes are awaiting restoration.One challenge crews have experienced in at least two locations is stolen downed wire. In one instance, an individual was apprehended by law enforcement.Wire theft is a serious issue and delays crew work. If you see anything suspicious, please report it to the Springfield Police Department's non-emergency line at 541-726-3714.If your home is in one of the areas below (from yesterday's list) power has been restored.· Small pocket on Kelly Butte· 63rd and F Street· Smith Way· N. 38th PlaceIMPORTANT - if you live in one of these and have no power or partial power, please call SUB at 541-746-8451.If your home is in one of the areas listed below, we are aware of the outages.· N. 21st to N. 28th , Main Street north to E Street· S. 32nd to S. 47th, Main Street south to the railroad tracks· I-5 crossing
· McKenzie River crossing
· Thurston Hills Natural area
· N. 31st Street
If you are outside of one of these areas, or if you have partial power, call SUB at 541-746-8451 EVEN IF YOU HAVE CALLED BEFORE. This will aid the restoration process.
8:30 am
For those checking in, we should have this for you soon.
January 26
8:45 pm UPDATE
We had a great day today - our first day of fanning out across the city to restore power to individual homes and clusters of homes.
As we’ve mentioned, we are at the stage of the restoration where we are spending more time to get smaller groups restored with power, but that’s the work right now.
We are overjoyed with each home we light up, and yet we know that for each home we repair, there are more who wait. The ice storm was brutal, but we will not stop until everyone has power again.
Please, if you are still out of power, and you aren’t one of the areas mentioned in our 8:30 am post today, call our outage line at 541-726-2395.
Calling helps the outage restoration process. So call, even if you have called before!
Thank you!
11:00 am UPDATE
If you are in one of the areas mentioned in this morning's update, we are aware of remaining outages. If you are NOT in one of the areas mentioned below and are still without power, please call our outage line at 541-726-2395, even if you have called in before.
If call volume is high, please bear with us. Having your call is very helpful for the restoration effort.
January 25
8:00 pm UPDATE
Another productive day, taking on some final big infrastructure projects that support our community while also restoring power to many neighborhoods. Today, we restored power to:
. Willamette Heights
· Lindale Drive
· Shamrock Village
· Some customers on the east and west side of Kelly Butte
· 42nd and Olympic area
· Deadmond Ferry and Baldy View area are restored
· Finished work at Willamalane, Rainbow Water District, Springfield School District, and SUB Water facilities
We are continuing work at:
· Vitus Lane
· S. 32nd to 47nd between Main Street and Railroad area
· 21st to 28th between G and E Street area
· South side of Jasper Road area
Just a note that we are still on track to get MOST customers power by the weekend. As we mentioned, those with difficult access issues or damage at their homes may take longer, but we will tackle every project.
We encourage people to check their weatherhead, mast and meter base now for damage. We have a special program that gives electricians permission to make emergency repairs, so if this applies to you, please see our website at subutil.com.
Thank you!
Power Forecast
We expect power to be restored to MOST customers by this weekend.
As always, power at individual homes and businesses (individual services) that have damage or other issues will likely take longer.
For more on our updated restoration forecast, click here
Previous updates are located here.
Quick Links to Ice Storm Info
Power Restoration Troubleshooting Tips
Outage Call Map
Use this map to confirm that SUB is aware of your outage call. Last updated 1-23-2024
https://www.subutil.com/electric/sub-electric-outage-map/
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January 24 - 9:00pm UPDATE
Another great day of progress, with crews spanning across the city to get power to more customers.
Power restored today at:
· Centennial to Quinalt between 5th Street and Market Street
· South of Quinalt to Centennial from 5th Street to Carter Lane
· S. 79th Street area
· South of Thurston Rd between 67th Place and 68th Place
· 54th and E Street area
· East of 16th to 21st from E Street south to Main Street
· Some additional customers on the north (47th) and south side of Jasper Rd near Clearwater Lane are restored
· East Pioneer Parkway to 19th and Hwy 105 to the McKenzie River
· 26th and G/Dubens Lane area
· Flamingo to Cardinal and Oriole to Game Farm
· Main Street to Centennial and East Pioneer Parkway to 15th Street
Areas we worked at today that we will be returning to tomorrow:
· 42nd and Olympic area will be restored tomorrow morning
· Willamette Heights restoration tomorrow
· Deadmond Ferry area in process
We say it every night, and we mean it every night - thank you so much for the gift of your patience!
We'll post again in the morning to share those areas we'll be visiting in addition to those listed above.
January 23
12:00 Noon
Updated Forecast for Power Restoration
- We expect power to be restored to MOST customers by this weekend.
- As always, power at individual homes and businesses (individual services) that have damage or other issues will likely take longer.
Where we are at
We are in the phase of the restoration effort where we are still replacing damaged poles, crossarms, and wire that serve neighborhoods or blocks of streets.
Our current trajectory is to make it through the entire SUB system addressing these types of repairs by the weekend.
There may be exceptions for difficult to access locations, but that is our goal and we are pushing hard toward it. We will communicate the areas that are exceptions as we continue to monitor progress.
The next phase will address service level (individual homes and businesses) issues. We plan to break our crews into smaller teams so we can blanket the City, bringing on individual customers, or clusters of customers.
How customers can help
It will speed up the timeline if customers create clear access to meter locations and SUB facilities, especially in backyards. Also, where masts and meter bases are damaged, ask customers to reach out to an electrician to make repairs .
Thanks to the many involved in the relief effort
Our crews, mutual aid partners, internal staff, and vendors have stepped up in a big way to help SUB respond to the impact on our water and electric facilities from this devastating and unprecedented ice storm.
At this time 12 line crews are dedicated to electric restoration, not counting support staff, to restore power as quickly as possible. While we have made significant progress, we know we have not reached every neighborhood yet, and there are still many of our customers without power. We will continue to work until everyone is back on!
Thank you!
8:30 am Update
January 22
January 21
January 20
8:30 pm UPDATE
*HUGE work day!
We started the day with 3,500 customer out of power, and ended with about 1,800!
While this is good news, we understand that for those who are still without power, it’s mostly just frustrating. Please know we are working hard to get ALL our customers restored.
Today, we made restored power to, or made significant progress, in the following areas:
· Kelly Butte
· Clearvue
· International Way
· 42nd – Main Street north to just south of Olympic
· Most of Hayden Bridge area
· Off High Banks Road
· In the area east of McKenzie Willamette hospital
· Off Thurston Road between 59th and 64th
We'll check back in with everyone tomorrow morning with tomorrow's plan. Thank you!
January 19
With the weather remaining stable, we continued making progress overnight. Along with backbone infrastructure improvements, we energized lines to several neighborhoods, restoring power to about 2,500 customers in various areas, including Thurston. Focusing on our backbone infrastructure sets us up to bring power to larger areas of customers.
Our plan for today is more progress:
• Replace broken poles by Thurston Middle School and Guy Lee Elementary to help get power back to our schools
• Repair water facilities on N. 66th Street
• Start pole replacement at 42nd and Olympic Street
• Complete Main and Bob Straub pole replacements
• Continue work on powerlines in the Hayden Bridge and Yolanda areas
• Work in the Jasper Road area between 32nd and 42nd Streets
• Restore backbone infrastructure on Laura Street then work in the area between 51st Street and E Street to 63rd and Main Street
Note that in order to make some repairs, we will sometimes need to temporarily de-energize lines that were previous energized. We did that today in the Gateway/Harlow area. Power will be back after repairs are made.
Again, a huge thank you to the McMinnville, Forest Grove and Ashland crews assisting us in this monumental effort. We are all grateful!
Customers may resume normal water use with no further action required
The Boil Water Advisories issued in response to ice-storm damage at Springfield Utility Board water systems have been lifted.
The boil water advisory in SUB’s West system was lifted earlier in the day, and the advisory for the East system was lifted just past 5 pm, after the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) returned test results showing the water was healthy to drink.
All customers in the affected areas may return to using tap water for all uses, including drinking, without boiling. No need to flush your pipes.
January 18
8:30 pm UPDATE
With the weather remaining warm, we had another good day with forward progress. We want to send a huge shout out to the many outside crews that have come in to help Springfield get back up and running. We are so appreciative!
Here’s what we’ve been working on today:
**Our crews completed repairs on Hayden Bridge near Harvest Lane and brought power to area customers.
**We made significant progress at Main & Bob Straub and anticipate completion of work there tomorrow evening.
**We made significant progress in repairs at Hayden Bridge near Guy Lee Elementary as well.
**Crew work allowed us to energize the City Public Works & Operations Department
**We energized backbone infrastructure in Hayden Bridge Road, and Yolanda to Marcola Road, and Thurston Road up to Thurston Middle School, bringing up customers.
**And we were also able to patrol and energize several powerlines off Jasper Road.
Please note that we are currently focusing on repairing and restoring our backbone circuits, which were devastated by the ice storm. This is necessary preparation for final power restoration.
Also, our regular reminder that we encourage any customer currently without power to plan to be without power for a week or more, knowing that we are making steady progress and bringing customers up every day.
Thank you as ever for your patience and support!
January 17
8:50PM UPDATE
SUB’s 21 mutual aid crew members plus their utility vehicles have arrived and are hard at work!
SUB’s crews have continued triage and infrastructure restoration. With improved conditions, we were able to make it to some hilly areas to replace poles. There is unfortunately significant tree damage to many homes, an example of important triage work to be done.
We remind customers to plan to be without power for more than a week as we restore parts of our system, but we are now making gains. With the worst of the weather behind us, we are encouraged this will continue.
Thank you.
Daily updates
Wednesday, January 17
12:15 pm UPDATE
The recent ice storm has caused damage to SUB’s electric system, which has also affected parts of our water distribution system.
We are issuing a boil water advisory notice to customers in our west and east distribution system (see map). If you do not have power to boil water, please use bottled water until the boil water notice has been lifted. We’re asking neighbors to help each other, especially when others don't have bottled water. Please see the map above to see the boundaries of east and west system.
Thank you.
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8:50PM UPDATE
SUB’s 21 mutual aid crew members plus their utility vehicles have arrived and are hard at work!
SUB’s crews have continued triage and infrastructure restoration. With improved conditions, we were able to make it to some hilly areas to replace poles. There is unfortunately significant tree damage to many homes, an example of important triage work to be done.
We remind customers to plan to be without power for more than a week as we restore parts of our system, but we are now making gains. With the worst of the weather behind us, we are encouraged this will continue.
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11:30 AM UPDATE:
We had a difficult night with the many gains made by our crews undone by new ice accumulation from yesterday’s freezing rain, followed by warm temperatures that melted ice, causing significant additional damage as broken tree limbs and large ice sheets fell into lines.
We estimate we have 12,000 customers out of power at the moment. Last night’s storm also pulled down power poles, and we currently have more than 40 that will need to be repaired and reset. System damage in those areas will take about a week to repair, at which point we can begin restoration of individual services. A map showing the areas will be posted soon.
Those without power should plan to remain without power for the at least the next week.
With the warming weather, streets are becoming more passable. We encourage people who can to look in on vulnerable neighbors, and to seek alternative accommodations if possible.
We know this is frustrating news, and we are working to get power back to people as soon as possible. Four outside crews are here or coming to assist in the effort.
Our area is working through the worst storm most of us have ever encountered, but we are facing the challenges with determination and hard work, and progress will happen as weather continues to stabilize.
Thank you for the incredible patience and grace you have shown, especially to our crews, as we navigate this truly unprecedented storm.
FOR YOUR SAFETY:
Continue to avoid Bob Straub parkway as crews clear downed poles.
Please stay back from crews as they work, for your safety and theirs.
AVOID approaching downed lines! They are dangerous and it’s impossible to tell if they are energized. Stay back!
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Tuesday, January 16
10:25 pm UPDATE
IMPORTANT: AVOID the area of Main Street from 58th to Bob Straub Parkway. Power poles have fallen in this section of road. Crews are removing wire from the roadway tonight but the poles will remain until the morning when additional crews and heavy equipment can begin to remove them.
IT IS IMPERATIVE that you avoid wires on the ground. They may be energized even if they appear dead, and touching an energized powerline will result in very serious injuries or death.
The freezing rain today has caused powerlines and poles to fall all around the City, and crews have had to keep members of the public from endangering themselves and crews by approaching crews and lines.
PLEASE STAY BACK AND STAY SAFE!
3 pm UPDATE
Thanks to ongoing work from crews working in dangerous, frigid conditions, we have whittled the number of customers without power down from 15,000 yesterday to about 6,000 customers.
The forecast freezing rain has started, however, and we anticipate new outages from the additional ice forming on trees.
Warmer temperatures are coming as well, which while welcome, will thaw ice on trees and release broken limbs currently frozen in place.
We understand this is a frustrating process and appreciate your patience as we endeavor to restore power and heat to your homes.
Please note that daily updates are pinned to our Facebook homepage, so check there or our website at subutil.com for the most current status. Also find an outage FAQ on the website.
Thank you!
10:00 am UPDATE
Repair work completed during the day stayed stable overnight, which is good news. Crews also worked to isolate sections of overhead lines that can be restored to power once repairs have been made. Many downed lines and damaged poles remain.
Overhead line sections must be visually inspected and verified, which is a time-consuming process but important for both for safety and to ensure the repair work holds.
We continue to urge customers to be prepared for an extended outage. We anticipate working on major repairs to main lines through the weekend before focusing on repairs to tap lines serving portions of neighborhoods.
If you have power, please use this time to make additional preparations as additional outages are possible depending on the course of today’s incoming weather.
We also encourage customers to look in on their neighbors and friends as we work our way through the power restoration process.
We hope to have more news for you later today.
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Monday, January 15
10:30 pm UPDATE
We can report good progress this afternoon and evening. Power was restored today to all of Glenwood, another part of the Gateway area, including the Mall, a portion of the Jasper Road neighborhood, and 66th and 69th St. in the Thurston area.
Crews will continue working overnight. Many lines are down and we are working to secure them.
We will report again around 9 am tomorrow. Thank you!
3pm UPDATE: We’ve made progress today bringing power to customers in several areas. We have service restored to the Mountaingate area and power restored to various neighborhoods in the Gateway, Mohawk, Centennial, and D Street areas.
Although progress is being made, CONDITIONS HAVE NOT STABILIZED, and icing and gusty winds are forecasted for tomorrow.
We strongly encourage customers to STILL PLAN TO BE WITHOUT POWER FOR SEVERAL DAYS, even as we bring power on.
Crews continue to work today, and we will post again around 10 PM to provide more updates.
THANK YOU!
8 am UPDATE: Crews worked overnight to restore power to Mckenzie Willamette Hospital, which had been operating via generator. While we restored power to about 1,500 customers yesterday, additional overnight outages keep the total number of customers affected at about 11,000, a third of our system.
This morning crews will resume restoring power following this prescribed plan: https://www.subutil.com/electric/power-problems/how-power-is-restored/
Our goal is to bring power and relief to as many customers as possible as quickly as possible, but it is important to note that the weight of ice on trees and infrastructure means new damage is still occurring, even as we make repairs.
As weather improves and the active damage period ends, we anticipate restoration efforts will gain momentum.
Barring any significant developments, we will report again at 3 pm. You can also see these and past updates on our website subutil.com — website updates can be translated into other languages for our non-English speaking customers.
Sunday, January 14
Crews will continue to work on power restoration this evening, with a focus on restoring power to critical services. We will be joined early tomorrow by a crew from Ashland to help with this monumental task.
IMPORTANT: much of the outage damage today occurred west of previous neighborhoods, as far west as Gateway and Glenwood. If you currently have power, PLEASE use this time to prepare for the possibility of an outage.
We understand this unprecedented event is a hardship for many of customers, and we are doing everything possible to make progress and restore service. We ask for and appreciate your continued patience as we work. Thank you, Springfield.
We will provide another update in the 8 a.m. hour tomorrow.
*Secondary Lines that take power from the tap line, via a transformer, to individual homes and businesses.
We understand how difficult it is to be without power, especially when the weather is so cold. We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to address the impacts of this truly significant public safety event as safely and expeditiously as possible.
For more information on the outage restoration process:
8:30 a.m. UPDATE Widespread outages have left approximately 6,000 SUB customers without power, with heavy storm damage from Hayden Bridge to the north, Thurston to the east and Mountaingate to the south.
Line crews remained active overnight to coordinate with emergency workers clearing roads of hazards. Restoration crews are working on restoration efforts to bring up as many customers as possible.
IMPORTANT: Given the extensive damage, customers should be prepared to be without power for an extended period. Falling trees and road hazards mean that previously restored areas could lose power again.
As we continue to work to restore power, SUB encourages our community to check in on vulnerable neighbors when safe to do so. For those with medical needs requiring electricity, please plan to enact your emergency back up plans, as it is not possible to predict when power will be restored, or if restored power will remain as conditions change.
SUB’s outage line is 541-726-2395. Customer Service Representatives are staffing lines, but please be prepared for heavy call volume.
SUB will continue to update as information becomes available.