Questions and answers
It is very difficult to pinpoint, exactly, how long a repair will take, especially
in large outages requiring days to restore all power. Once an outage is reported,
a troubleshooter is sent to assess the problem. Sometimes the troubleshooter can
fix the problem, but in many larger outages, a full crew must be dispatched.
In large, multiple-day outages, it is virtually impossible for the Eugene Water
& Electric Board to determine in advance exactly when a crew will arrive in a specific
area of town to repair damage. Even after damage is prioritized and a crew is assigned,
crews often do not know how long a repair will take until they arrive on the scene
and fully assess the damage.
Your neighbor may be served by a different transformer, feeder line or tap line.
There may also be a problem with the individual line serving your home or business.
The meter base, weatherhead and conduit (pipe) belong to the property owner. If
they are damaged or pulled off the side of the building, you will need to call a
licensed electrician for repairs before EWEB can restore your power.
The truck is checking the electric system in your area, looking for any problems
with the overhead lines that may have caused the outage. The cause of the outage
may not be on your street. It can actually be several streets away.
EWEB has a five-year capital plan that includes maintaining and upgrading our electric
system to increase reliability. When a troubleshooter responds to an outage as part
of the restoration, he or she takes proactive measures such as installing animal
guards or reporting needed tree trimming. We also have contract crews that work
year-round to keep the trees trimmed.
The overhead wires you typically see on city streets and neighborhoods at the top
of the poles are usually bare wire and are not insulated. "Service drops," which
carry power from the pole to your home, are often insulated. However, they should
be treated as dangerous because insulation can become worn, exposing bare wire.
A bird sitting on a line does not complete a path to ground. Electricity passes
harmlessly through the line without causing injury. If the bird were to touch the
ground or some part of the system that is grounded, the bird would be electrocuted.
Yes. Squirrels often jump onto transformers, then try to climb up onto the connecting
wires. Because they are touching the transformer and the wire at the same time,
they become grounded and often cause an outage.