Projects

Line Rebuild: Elm Ave to HWY 37

Hermiston, OR

UEC will be rebuilding 17 miles of aging transmission line along Elm Avenue. The rebuild will ensure that members will experience safe and reliable power for years to come, and will aid in shorter outage restoration times to individuals in the area.

Upgrade Meter Change-out

System Wide

New automated meters to help improve our electric distribution system are being deployed across UEC’s service territory. UEC contractor, Allegiant Utility Services technicians will replace existing digital meters. During meter installations, disruption to members should be minimal.

Aerial Drone Inspections

System Wide

With over 2,300 miles of energized line across a nearly 2,000-square-miles, UEC now uses drones to help discover deficiencies along the electrical system during inspections.

Recloser Installation Project

Weston Mountain Service Area

This multi-year project, installing an updated version of a “recloser” and related communications equipment designed to make the system more efficient and reliant.

Wilson Lane Improvement Project

Boardman, OR

Replacing 43 aging poles and approximately 1.8 miles of line along Wilson Lane in south Boardman, between the intersections of Olson road and Paul Smith road. The project is slated to begin in March of 2022 and be complete in June.

Vegetation Management

System Wide

Every year, UEC crews trim thousands of trees, clear vegetation and shred underbrush beneath power lines in high density areas to minimize the likelihood of safety hazards and power outages.

Completed Projects:

Weston Mountain Substation Rebuild

Weston Mountain, OR

At 53 years old, the existing Weston Mountain Substation currently operates with the single oldest transformer on UEC’s system. By rebuilding the Weston Mountain Substation, UEC can be proactive in reducing the risk of equipment failures and member outages, ensuring reliability and resiliency for years to come.

Power City Substation Expansion

Power City, OR

The expansion of the Power City Substation will aid in the continued, dependable electric service for nearly 900 members in the Umatilla and Hermiston areas. The project will expand the high side of the existing substation to allow for 115kV transmission lines to flow in and out of the substation, tying into UEC’s existing 115kV facilities.

Columbia Substation Rebuild

Hermiston, OR

Columbia Substation currently runs on a single, 48 year old, substation transformer which is functioning nearly at its maximum capacity. Replacing antiquated infrastructure reduces the risk of equipment failure and member outages.