USA, Oregon: Pacific Power has announced plans to expand and modernise its network in Central Oregon to keep pace with the region’s rapid growth.
A new substation is set to be built in north Redmond, just off US Highway 97 near the new police station. Once complete, it will add about 33 MV of capacity to the grid, enough to power roughly 30,000 homes. Construction is expected to finish by early 2028.
The utility is also planning a distribution-level substation in Bend, scheduled to come online in late 2027, while capacity upgrades are underway at the Yew Avenue substation in south Redmond, due to be completed next summer. In addition, more than a dozen smaller stations across the region will be upgraded.
According to PacifiCorp, Pacific Power’s parent company, electricity demand in Central Oregon has grown by 30–40 % since 2020. Rising population and major industrial projects, including an Amazon distribution centre in east Redmond, are driving the surge in energy needs.
“The need is there now and so we are doing our best to expedite it in a reasonable and analytical fashion,” said Alisa Dunlap, regional business manager for Pacific Power.
The company is also advancing “Project Blueprint,” a large power line project that will connect Klamath Falls and Central Oregon with a new 500 kV transmission line. The route is still under review but is likely to run near east Redmond.
Pacific Power currently serves around 106,000 customers across Central Oregon, from Warm Springs to Bend.
Source: Redmond Spokesman
