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Thursday, Nov. 5

We're watching the forecast and preparing for gusty winds Friday, followed by a stronger weather system Saturday night into Sunday. We expect stormy weather conditions to persist for the next few weeks. Many trees still have vegetation and that could lead to additional outages associated with the weather systems this weekend.

We understand how difficult it is to be without power. Our teams are preparing to respond, we're adding staff for the weekend, and crews will remain in the field to assess damage and restore power as long as it is safe. If your power goes out, we'll work around the clock to restore it as quickly and safely as possible.

As we prepare for storm conditions, we encourage our customers to do the same:

  • Make sure to have emergency supplies at home and in your vehicle, such as extra batteries, flashlights, food and blankets.
  • Have a battery-powered radio ready to go.
  • Charge cell phones and mobile devices in case the power goes out.
  • Download the PSE mobile outage app to track and report outages or visit pse.com/outagemap.
  • Find more preparedness tips at pse.com/storm.    

Visit PSE’s Alerts and Advisories page for more information: pse.com/alerts.


alert 

Safety first:

  • Assume all wires on the ground are energized. Never touch or go within 35 feet of any wire on the ground. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report any wire on the ground.
  • If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
  • Always use flashlights instead of candles.
  • Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning:
    • Never install or use a generator indoors or in enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even those that are ventilated. When using your generator outdoors during a power outage, avoid placing it near windows, doors and vents. More generator safety tips: pse.com/en/pages/generator-safety.
    • Never use a natural gas range for heating, or charcoal as an indoor heating or cooking source.
    • Additional carbon monoxide safety information: pse.com/en/pages/carbon-monoxide.
  • Never charge your phone or other devices in a running vehicle with the garage door closed.

Conservation voltage reductionProviding more efficient power to your home or business

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) is an enhancement to the electric system that improves the system’s efficiency. CVR lowers energy consumption, reduces environmental impact, and ensures reliable service through the fine-tuning of the system voltages for our customers.

 

How it works

Per WA State code WAC 480-100-373, PSE delivers to customers a voltage that is required to stay within +/- 5% of the nominal service voltage, which for a 120V service would be the delivered voltage can be operated between 114 and 126 volts. CVR is a method of managing the voltage via regulation devices to more in the lower half of the range (114-120 volts) rather than the upper half (120-126 volts). Operating in the lower range produces energy savings and efficiencies without impacting customer appliances and electronics.

 

What you can expect
  • Smooth Operation: Your appliances will continue to perform reliably, even with a slightly reduced voltage.
  • Reduced Wear and Tear: Devices like refrigerators, air conditioners, and LED lights may benefit from lower electrical stress from increased efficiency, potentially extending their lifespan.
  • Unchanged Performance: In most cases, you won’t notice any difference in how your appliances work from day to day.
  • Settings Adjustments: Some appliances may require adjustment in their voltage settings to reflect the minor adjustment in voltage being delivered. Examples of this might be uninterruptible power supply (UPS), backup generator, equipment controllers, and variable frequency drives.

 

Questions?

Contact us at cvr.program@pse.com or 425-462-3644 with your CVR related questions.