EWEB marks five years since heat dome reshaped summer planning
EWEB says the 2021 heat dome turned summer planning into a year-round reliability problem, as Eugene's above-90-degree days nearly doubled and demand neared a record in 2024.
The June 26 to June 28, 2021 heat dome changed how EWEB plans for summer reliability in Eugene. The region used to average about 17 days a year above 90 degrees; over the last six years it has averaged 33. EWEB now tracks customer demand in real time and plans on daily, weekly, yearly and decade-long timelines to keep enough power available when temperatures spike.
Oregon's after-action review places the historic excessive heat event region-wide from June 25 to June 30, with three straight days of triple-digit temperatures reaching 106 to 117 degrees across multiple counties. The Oregon Health Authority counted heat as the sole cause of more than 100 deaths in summer 2021, including 102 from the June heat dome, and most of those who died were elderly, isolated and living with low incomes. EWEB recommends backup plans for refrigerating medicines and using power-dependent medical devices, and checking on neighbors when extreme heat arrives.
On July 9, 2024, when temperatures hit 105 degrees, EWEB's electricity demand climbed to 418 megawatts at 6 p.m., the utility's second-highest summer demand on record and its highest since 2006. The all-time summer record remains 423 megawatts, set in 2006 when Eugene still had the Hynix microchip manufacturing plant on the grid. Flexible hydropower resources helped EWEB meet the 2024 load without problems and ramp up and down during extreme heat.
EWEB's Customer Care program offers an annual $280 bill credit to income-qualifying customers, with applications opening on the first business day of the month at 8:30 a.m. until funds run out. The utility also offers income-based efficiency rebates and loans, including help for homes and rental property, plus a ductless heat pump program that helps pay for an energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
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