Spring break power outages: Review your checklist

UO Campus Planning and Facilities Management will conduct utility maintenance and testing which will entail short, staggered power outages in most buildings on the UO campus during spring break.

The project will take place on the mornings of Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24.

Are you ready for the outages? Here’s a checklist to help you prepare:

See if your building will be affected by the day one outages. Maps and detailed schedule are available online. Reminder: On day two, the entire campus will lose power for up to five minutes while the backup power source, the UO’s Central Power Station, comes online.

  • Take an inventory of the items you use that rely on electricity and could be affected by the outages.
  • Before the scheduled outages, unplug appliances with electronic components, such as microwaves, televisions and computers, as well as research equipment. This will help to prevent damage to your equipment should there be voltage surges when electricity is restored.
  • Don’t make assumptions about your electronics’ backup power or “standby” capabilities, particularly for sensitive research equipment. If you need assistance preparing your equipment for the outage, Safety and Risk Services has launched this continuity survey. Risk services can connect respondents with the resources or support they need to plan for the outages.
  • More questions? Check out the FAQ page on the power outage website.

REMINDER: This maintenance project calls for staggered, 15-minute outages that will affect one feeder, and the buildings it powers, at a time on the morning of Monday, March 23. On Tuesday, March 24, all power to campus will be shut off for under five minutes. Click here for a complete schedule and list of buildings affected both days.