Portland, Oregon – Significant power outages plagued the Portland metropolitan area throughout Saturday as a potent winter storm moved through the region. As of 8:00 PM, upwards of 150,000 households remained without electricity, served by both Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power.

PGE experienced the brunt of the outages, with peak numbers exceeding 153,000 customers affected. Pacific Power saw over 15,000 customers in the dark at its highest point.

While crews diligently addressed the disruptions, both utility companies acknowledged the difficulty in providing precise restoration timelines for the majority of impacted customers. As of Saturday evening, the Pacific Power website indicated potential delays until Tuesday for certain isolated outages.

With the abating of rain and snow Saturday night, a PGE spokesperson expressed optimism for a clearer picture of individual outages by Sunday’s end. “The specific circumstances of each outage will dictate restoration timeframes,” emphasized Simon Gutierrez of Pacific Power. “Remote equipment locations present access challenges, leading to potentially slower progress.”

“Our crews have been working tirelessly around the clock,” Gutierrez continued. “Their dedication to reaching affected areas and restoring power is unwavering. We sincerely appreciate their ongoing efforts.”