Columbia River PUD

Electric utility, community supporter, public power provider. Please report outages at [phone], not on Twitter.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

We understand there are some of you who have been without power since the early hours of yesterday, and we are working our way toward you. Our linemen have been working for 30 hours straight and are continuing to to work hard to safely restore power.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

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Outage Update: December 18, 7:00 a.m.

Good morning. Our crews made some great progress overnight, restoring power to nearly 1,000 customers. We still have about 285 customers without power and about 23 different outage spots.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

These repairs will also restore power to smaller lines, which may need further repairs.

There are approximately 1,670 customers without power.

We do not have any estimates on when power will be restored.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

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Outage Update: December 17, 4:00 p.m.

Our line crews and tree crews are continuing to work on making repairs to our electric distribution system. We are prioritizing repairs that restore power to the largest number of customers.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Outage Update: December 17, 2:00 p.m. Our line crews and tree crews are working hard to clear trees from lines and roads, then making repairs to our electric distribution system. There are approximately 2,100 customers without power.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

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Our line crews and tree crews have been working on restoration efforts since about 1 a.m. and will continue working to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

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Outage Update: December 17, 6:45 a.m.
We are responding to widespread outages across our service territory. As of 6:45 a.m. on December 17, we have about 3,000 customers out of power. There are roughly 50 different trouble spots.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Sign up to give blood at our American Red Cross blood drive! We're hosting one in our Community Room on Monday, January 5; there are still spots available. Register at https://t.co/k6Irma3RzW.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

You can save on your heating costs by dialing your thermostat back just a little bit. Each degree you lower your thermostat will save you about 2% on heating costs.

[City Of St.Helens @sthelens]

➡️ Check storm drains in front of your home and clear away any fallen leaves before water has the chance to pond on streets.

➡️ Call @crpudUtility at 503-397-1844 to report a power outage. NEVER touch a downed power line.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Happy Monday! Hopefully you've already received your 2026 CRPUD calendar. If you haven't or if you'd like to pick up an extra, please stop by our office to grab one.

Thanks to everyone who entered our contest this year! We have some outstanding photographers in our community.

[Douglas Electric Cooperative @DOUGLAS_COOP]

Why Do Electric Bills Go Up in the Winter — Even When the Thermostat Stays at 70°?

If your home is set at the same temperature year-round, it can be frustrating to see your winter electric bill jump. But here’s the good news — it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s simply physics and weather working against your home’s heating system.

Here’s why winter bills are almost always higher:

❄️ Bigger Temperature Difference = More Work for Your Heater
When it’s 30° outside and you’re keeping your home at 70°, your heating system has to work much harder than it does when it’s 60° outside. The bigger the difference, the faster your home loses heat — and the harder your heater has to run to maintain the same temperature.

💨 Shorter Days = More Electricity Used
Less daylight means more hours with the lights on and more time spent indoors using appliances, TVs, and devices.

🔥 Electric Heat Is the Most Demanding Appliance in Your Home
If you heat with an electric furnace, heat pump in cold weather, or baseboard heaters, those systems are the largest energy users in your home. Even small increases in runtime can have a big impact on your bill.

🏠 Homes Lose Heat Faster in Winter
Colder air seeping in through windows, doors, crawlspaces, and attics increases how often your heating system has to cycle on — even if your thermostat never moves.

Bottom Line:
Even at the same thermostat setting, your home uses more electricity in winter simply because it takes more energy to keep a warm space from cooling down.

If you ever have questions about your DEC bill or want tips for improving efficiency, we’re always here to help!

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

On #GivingTuesday, even small acts can make a big difference close to home.

A donation to our GLOW Fund helps local families keep the lights on when they're facing unexpected hardship.

If you're able, please consider giving today: https://t.co/YQoHPFKYAx

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve you! Our office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

We will have crews available on standby in case the power goes out. If you lose power, please call us at [phone].

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

'Tis the season! Our Warming Tree is up and we are accepting donations of warming items until December 15. Please bring in your new, handmade, or gently used hats, blankets, gloves or other warming items before then. Everything collected will go to Community Action Team, Inc.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Please remember to always stay away from downed power lines. Even if it's on the ground, it can still be energized. Anything touching the line can also be energized. Keep your distance and call us at [phone] to report the downed line.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Thank you to all who served.

Our office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11.

We will have crews on standby in case of outages. If you lose power, please call us at [phone].

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Are you in need of assistance on your electric bill? Please check with us to see if you qualify for one of our programs. You can call us at 503-397-1844 or visit https://t.co/ExrTE0Su4R to find out. We are here to help.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

Have you checked your furnace filter lately? If yours looks like the one on the left, change it out for a new one.

Dirty or clogged filters make your furnace work harder. This can increase heating costs and shorten the life of your equipment.

[Columbia River PUD @crpudUtility]

We recently signed a long-term Power Sales Agreement with @bonnevillepower, locking in access to affordable Tier 1 power rates through September of 2044. Read more here: https://t.co/Qm5csg6yT7