MEDFORD, Ore. (July 13, 2026) — Approximately 1,403 Pacific Power customers in the Medford area are without electricity Monday afternoon after the utility activated “Enhanced Safety Settings” due to elevated wildfire risk conditions.
According to Pacific Power, crews are monitoring conditions to restore service, with an estimated restoration time of 2 p.m., though the timeline may change depending on weather, fire conditions and safety assessments.
The outages are part of Pacific Power’s wildfire prevention measures, which are designed to reduce the risk of electrical equipment igniting fires during periods of heightened wildfire danger. The company said Enhanced Safety Settings place certain system equipment into more sensitive operating modes that can quickly shut off power when a potential hazard is detected.
“When the risk of wildfire is elevated,” Pacific Power says, the settings are used to help prevent ignition if power lines are contacted by debris, wildlife or strong winds. Under these settings, lines can be de-energized within fractions of a second when a fault is detected.
Customers affected by Enhanced Safety Settings may experience more frequent outages or longer restoration times because crews must patrol and inspect affected power lines before restoring electricity.
Pacific Power monitors weather and fire conditions across its service territory and adjusts its electrical system operations based on forecasts, wildfire conditions and other safety factors.
Residents experiencing an outage are encouraged to check Pacific Power’s outage information page for updates and prepare for possible extended outages during periods of increased wildfire danger.
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