 Hi, I'm Rachael McDonald with the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) communications team.
Happy Earth Month! We’re thrilled to bring you the second edition of our new monthly newsletter, Current Connections. In this issue, you can learn about how to reduce your carbon footprint, vote for EWEB’s Greenpower grants, and take a deep dive on how EWEB is investing in electric infrastructure. We’ve also rounded up some info on local Earth Day events!
Please let us know what you think! Email publicaffairs@eweb.org.
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We are the people in your neighborhood!
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Water Treatment Operator Jared Giacomelli checks chlorine levels during a test of one of EWEB’s mobile water treatment trailers. In an emergency, the trailers can pump surface water through a series of particle and UV filters, then sanitize it with chlorine, making it safe for consumption. Photo: Adam Spencer, EWEB Communications
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Ramping up on electric infrastructure investments
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From power plants to distribution and transmission lines, substations to transformers — utility infrastructure is a complex system that requires investment and maintenance to provide constant, reliable power.
During the 1950s to the 1970s, Eugene was growing fast as new residents and industries moved to the area. To keep up with growing demand for electricity, EWEB went through a building boom of infrastructure. The equipment installed 50-plus years ago makes up most of EWEB’s electric grid today, but it’s reaching the end of its useful life.
To address the aging infrastructure bubble and maintain reliability, EWEB has crafted a 10-year Capital Improvement Plan to rehabilitate, replace and install new infrastructure. One major project is the rebuild of 10 substations in 10 years, beginning with the reconstruction of Currin substation this year.
Read more about EWEB’s resiliency-packed plan and some of the projects you’ll hear more about in 2023.
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Trivia time!
When you're on a crew of electric line technicians and you have to work underground, what animals are you compared to?
A) Ants
B) Moles
C) Gophers
D) Snakes
Keep reading to find out if you got the right answer!
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This Earth Month, let's take action together!
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As a publicly-owned utility, we exist for the benefit of our community—a community that is known for its dedication to environmental sustainability and stewardship.
 Earth Month is a great time to take action in our daily lives and community. EWEB has several Earth friendly, environmentally conscious programs that are designed to help reduce carbon emissions, save money and make a difference in our local community. Want to support local solar projects? Help plant a forest? Support carbon sequestration research? Reduce or offset your carbon footprint? We've got you covered! Check out GreenOptions to find programs that work for your budget and values.
Speaking of carbon, if you've ever wondered what the big deal is, check out our recent news room article, Carbon: What it is, why it's important and what you can do to help.
Looking for other ways to get involved this Earth Month? Here are a few events we've found around our community:
Saturday April 22, 2023
Earth Day Volunteer Work Party, Mount Pisgah
Earth Day Open House, Eugene Science Center
Earth Day Celebration, UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Grow Resilience: Earth Day of Service 2023, University of Oregon
Throughout April:
Volunteer with Friends of Trees
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What's happening at your community-owned utility?
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 EWEB Employee Spotlight
Sometimes our careers take unexpected twists and turns. An interest in science led EWEB’s Gretchen Lowen to a career in technology. She manages EWEB’s network of fiber optic communications. Listen to audio story or read in 5 minutes: Women in STEM: Meet the technician who manages EWEB's communication system | EWEB
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 EWEB already tests for PFAS
EWEB is already in compliance with a new proposed federal rule that would require municipalities to test for PFAs, or forever chemicals, in drinking water. The good news for EWEB customers is that in over ten years of testing we have not found PFAs in our water. Listen to audio story or read in 2 minutes: Test show EWEB water is free of "forever chemicals" | EWEB
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 EWEB bolsters its preparedness with new water trailer
EWEB is expanding its capacity to provide water to customers in emergencies. The newest addition is a state-of-the-art water treatment trailer paid for using a grant from the State Preparedness and Incident Response Program (SPIRE). Listen to audio story or read in 2 minutes: New water treatment trailer improves EWEB's emergency response abilities | EWEB
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 A second drinking water source for EWEB
Did you know Eugene is one of the largest cities on the west coast with a single source of drinking water. EWEB is trying to change that by seeking a second drinking water source to make our community more resilient in the future. Listen to audio story or read in 6 minutes: EWEB pursues second water treatment plant to ensure resiliency | EWEB
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Board of Commissioners meetings and topics
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The Eugene Water & Electric Board is owned by our customers, who elect a five-member Board of Commissioners. At their next public meeting, Commissioners will discuss:
- Options for funding future decommissioning of the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project (rate increases, debt, grants, etc.)
- McKenzie River water quality trends, threats to water quality and programs designed to mitigate or reduce impacts to water quality
- General Manager's annual performance evaluation
- Results of the annual independent audit of EWEB's financial statements, controls, and reporting
- Approval of contracts for infrastructure and maintenance projects, major equipment purchases and other contracted services.
You can view the full agenda for the April 4 meeting here, and learn how to watch online, attend in-person and provide public comments here.
Read a recap of the previous Board meeting (2-minute read)
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Rebates, savings and other programs
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Efficiency & conservation tip of the month
 In 2022 EWEB customers saved over 15,000 MWh through energy efficiency upgrades. One easy way to start making your home more energy efficient is to seal up any drafts around doors or windows. This keeps warm air inside during the winter and out during the summer. Get tips on how to find and seal leaks.
It is hard to save money and reduce your energy bill if you live or work in a drafty space with inefficient appliances. Our rebate and loan programs help with the upfront costs to upgrade your heating system, water heater, windows, insulation and other upgrades.
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Become a Greenpower Subscriber and vote on 2023 grant winner
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We are excited to announce that the 2023 Greenpower Grant is here! The grant funds a high-impact project that increases the use of renewable energy sources, encourages the adoption of emerging technologies, enhances understanding of clean energy, and/or reduces or offsets carbon emissions.
The Greenpower Grant is funded by EWEB’s Greenpower subscribers. Greenpower customers pay a little extra in their EWEB bill to support environmental projects. They also vote on the winner of the Greenpower Grant. Subscribers can begin voting for their favorite application on April 7, 2023.
If you are not currently a subscriber, but want to make sure your voice is heard, subscribe to Greenpower by April 6.
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Friendly competition brings local utilities together
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Professional water operators from local area utilities participated in a friendly competition at EWEB's Roosevelt Operations Center in March. The competition included a meter challenge, knowledge of industry gimmicks and gadgets, and a drinking water taste test. The winner of the best tasting water competition might surprise you!
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Join our team!
A healthy workplace, competitive pay and comprehensive benefits make EWEB a great place to work. We're looking for talented people to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to our team.
 Featured Job: IT Business Analyst II
Are you a hyper-organized IT professional looking for a rewarding career working alongside similarly driven team members? Then look no further! EWEB is seeking an IT Business Analyst II to join our motivated, growing team of problem-solvers. This position will join a team helping transform and adapt EWEB information technology to a forward-thinking and collaborative service division.
Check out this and other job openings.
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Preparing for emergencies
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Events like wildfire, earthquake or even a really bad winter storm can impact the electric and water systems and other public services we all rely on. In a severe emergency, some services could be disrupted for weeks or even months.
Preparedness is a shared responsibility. We're making investments to prepare, replace and maintain our community's electric and water systems. You can do your part by following Oregon Office of Emergency Management's recommendation to build a kit and make a plan to be without public services for two weeks.
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It's never to early to prepare for wildfire season
EWEB inspects distribution and transmission lines annually in EWEB's High-Risk Fire Zones looking for any part of the system that could cause a fire ignition. Distribution circuits are inspected before April 1st, so crews can make necessary repairs before summer arrives. EWEB’s vegetation crew will inspect over 250 ‘line miles’ of trees in the high-risk zones to reduce the risk of branches falling on lines and increase clearance between wires and vegetation.
Learn more about EWEB’s role in wildfire mitigation here.
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Your monthly Pledge to Prepare Checklist
Pledge to Prepare is a 12-month blueprint to get you and your household two weeks ready in case of large emergency outage.
In April, continue to build on food and water supplies you gathered in previous months. You'll also complete a home inventory of valuables and secure important documents. Share a photo of your progress to be entered to win the monthly raffle.
Join Pledge to Prepare
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EWEB in the media
Check out the latest news coverage featuring EWEB and see the work we're doing around the community.
EWEB offering $50,000 community Greenpower renewable energy grant (KVAL, March 6)
New water treatment trailer improves EWEB's emergency response abilities' (KVAL, March 22)
We Fought the Lawn: And the Bees Won (Eugene Weekly, March 23)
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Deep dives for fellow utility nerds :-)
Our Worst Day - Preparing for a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami
What will happen when a major earthquake strikes the Pacific Northwest? Experts from the University of Oregon, as well as emergency managers from Lane County and the state, weigh in on how to prepare.
Read more from KLCC.
Falling lithium prices are making electric cars more affordable
Despite predictions of ever-rising prices for lithium, a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, prices recently fell nearly 20%. EV makers such as Tesla have responded by cutting prices for new vehicles. But the lithium industry remains in flux.
Read more from The New York Times.
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Trivia answer:
If you guessed option B, moles, congratulations!
You are correct.
Here are two EWEB moles. Actually, they're electric crews replacing an underground vault in downtown Eugene. Find out more here.
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Thank you for allowing us to keep in touch with you by email! If you enjoyed this newsletter and want to make sure it reaches your inbox each month, add follow.us@eweb.org to your contact list. Let us know what you think of this newsletter, or tag us on social media!
We are @EWEButility on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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