PGE offers tips to be ready and save energy this winter

Portland, Ore. – Portland General Electric plans and prepares year-round for inclement and extreme weather conditions of all kinds. With cooler temperatures and potential inclement weather coming to Oregon, PGE is prepared and encourages customers to be prepared, too.

We work year-round to operate the grid safely and reliably. However, power outages can happen for reasons like traffic accidents and storms. As winter settles in, it brings with it weather-related outages caused by strong wind, accumulating snow and ice, so it’s a good idea to be prepared.

• Prepare an outage kit that includes:

  • Flashlight or headlamps.

  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and alarm clock or watch.

  • Car charger for your cell phone, laptops and/or tablets.

  • 72-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water.

  • Extra blankets.

  • Bottled water for people and animals (if you rely on electricity to pump water).

• Be familiar with safe cooking, heating, and lighting practices. Information on safe generator use and other safety tips are available on portlandgeneral.com/safety.

• Protect home electronics by investing in surge protection equipment. See options at portlandgeneral.com/surge.

• If you have an electric garage door opener, learn how to operate it manually.

• For more winter-ready tips, visit portlandgeneral.com/beprepared.

People should always assume that any downed line is live and extremely dangerous and should stay far back. Never touch a downed wire with your body or any object. Report any downed line immediately to PGE by calling 503-464-7777 or 800-544-1795.

PGE offers several ways to get updates or report an outage:

• Text updates: Call PGE’s Customer Service team at 503-228-6322 or 800-542-8818 to make sure PGE has your contact information so we can update you with outage information via text message (outage texts are currently available for residential and small business customers with fewer than six accounts).

• Online: Go to portlandgeneral.com/outage to view PGE’s outage map.

• App: Download the PGE app at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Links also available at portlandgeneral.com/app.

• Phone: Call 503-464-7777 or 800-544-1795 to report a power outage or downed line through our automated system. Customers can also request a call back when power is restored.

When it comes to heating a home, there are simple steps customers can take to save energy and money.

• Each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter saves an estimated two percent on your heating bill.

• A smart thermostat makes it even easier to save as it will learn your patterns and automatically adjust the temperature.

• Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees for savings and safety.

• Visit pgemarketplace.com to shop energy-saving products such as LEDs and smart thermostats, which often include instant rebates for program participation and significantly lower the cost of those purchases.  

• Follow us on Twitter @PortlandGeneral and Facebook @PortlandGeneralElectric for preparedness, safety and money-saving tips.