The Work You Don’t See: Investing in Reliability

When the lights are on, it's easy to assume the electric system is simply doing its job. But behind the scenes, Central Lincoln staff are working year-round to maintain, repair, and upgrade the infrastructure that delivers power to homes and businesses throughout our service area.

Some of this work is visible, such as replacing poles, trimming vegetation, or installing new underground lines. Much of it happens out of sight. Crews inspect and maintain substations, replace aging equipment before it fails, upgrade communications systems, and make improvements designed to reduce outages and strengthen the electric system.

In some locations, overhead power lines are being moved underground to help reduce outages, improve access for our crews, and lessen the impact of trees and vegetation. Current undergrounding projects include Hidden Valley Road (Toledo), Siltcoos Station Road (Westlake), and the Cape Perpetua corridor between Yachats and Florence. However, underground construction is expensive and is not practical in every location. We evaluate each project individually and focus undergrounding efforts where they provide the greatest benefit for safety, outage reduction, and long-term maintenance.

Some projects are designed to address long-term risks before they impact service. One major project currently underway involves relocating a substation in the Toledo area from a low-elevation site vulnerable to flooding to a new location on higher ground. The new substation incorporates modern equipment and technology and will help reduce flood-related risks while supporting the area's future power needs.

Not every reliability project involves building something new. In many cases, extending the life of equipment already in service is the smartest investment. For example, we recently replaced a radiator on a transformer serving the Lincoln Beach area. By repairing and upgrading key components rather than replacing the entire transformer, we can often extend the life of critical equipment for years while avoiding the significantly higher cost of a full replacement. This approach helps make responsible use of customer dollars while maintaining dependable service.

Reliable electric service doesn't happen by accident. It is the result of ongoing planning, maintenance, and investment. The work may not always be visible, but it helps ensure Central Lincoln is prepared to serve our communities today and for years to come.

The steel framework of the new Arcadia Substation will support modern high-voltage equipment that will help provide reliable electric service for decades to come. Central Lincoln crews assemble the steel structure for the new Arcadia Substation near Toledo. The project will relocate critical electrical infrastructure from a flood-prone area to higher ground.