Fewer power outages: How PGE is improving reliability

When you flip a switch, you probably aren’t thinking about everything happening to keep the power flowing. And really, you shouldn’t have to.

That’s our job. We keep track of how often outages happen and how long they last, and we’re always working to bring both numbers down. And while we can’t control the weather, we can work to make our grid as strong as possible.

There’s a lot that goes into keeping our energy grid reliable and reducing power outages. That can mean replacing older equipment, making grid improvements, adding new technology or walking miles of power lines looking for trees and branches that could cause trouble.

And that work is making a difference.

Nearly 25% fewer power outages in one year

From 2024 to 2025, the average number of power outages PGE customers experienced dropped by nearly 25%.

Customers also spent less time without power overall. In 2025, the amount of time the average customer was without power decreased by 23%.

It’s a lot of work you may never see. But fewer power outages? That’s something you can notice.

Reducing power outages in areas at higher risk of wildfire

The work doesn’t look exactly the same everywhere.

In areas at higher risk of wildfire, we’re taking extra steps (literally!) to help keep the energy grid safer and more reliable. Between 2021 and 2025, customers in these areas experienced a more than 60% reduction in power outages.

This work includes putting some power lines underground, wrapping power poles in fire-resistant mesh and replacing some wooden poles with ductile iron poles. We’re also using wildfire detection cameras and high-tech weather stations to help monitor for and reduce wildfire risk in these areas.

And sometimes, reducing power outages includes getting out there to inspect our lines, which can be with drones or on foot.

PGE crews conduct tree-trimming and vegetation management in Mt. Hood National Forest.

Keeping trees and plants clear of power lines

PGE has more than 1,100 miles of power lines in areas at higher risk of wildfire. Throughout the year, our foresters walk those lines, looking closely at trees, limbs and other plants that could threaten power lines.

When they spot a potential problem, tree crews can trim the vegetation or, in some cases, remove the tree.

And it’s not always a one-and-done visit. Foresters may come back to some areas several times throughout the year to see what’s changed and take care of potential problems before they can contribute to an outage or wildfire.

PGE forester Patrick Donovan knows those miles well. In more than 13 years with PGE, he estimates he’s walked at least 10,000 miles along power lines.

It’s careful, hands-on work. And just one piece of what goes into keeping the power on.

Building a more reliable energy grid, piece by piece

There’s no single project or piece of technology behind fewer power outages. It takes a lot of different work happening together, every day, much of it behind the scenes.

And we’re seeing a difference. Customers are experiencing both fewer outages and shorter outage times when outages do occur.

Because at the end of the day, all that behind-the-scenes work comes down to something pretty simple: keeping the power on more often for the people and communities we serve.