Pacific Power Gets $50 Million Federal Grid Grant
The U.S. Department of Energy's Speed to Power initiative funds upgrades aimed at reducing outages and expanding transmission capacity between Oregon and Washington.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Utilities
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The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Pacific Power a $50 million federal grant for grid infrastructure upgrades, received on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The grant is intended to reduce power outages and increase transmission capacity between Oregon and Washington.
Why it matters
The funding targets aging transmission infrastructure that limits how much electricity can move across the region. Improving that capacity and reliability is central to the Department of Energy's goal of modernizing the grid and reducing electric costs.
The $50 million federal grant is the only financial figure reported for the project. The specific capacity gains and outage reduction targets were not quantified in the available details.
The players
Pacific Power
Pacific Power is an electric utility serving customers in Oregon, Washington, and California, operating as a subsidiary of PacifiCorp.
U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy is the federal agency responsible for national energy policy, research, and grid modernization programs, including the Speed to Power initiative.
The details
Pacific Power will install Advanced Power Flow Control at Merwin Substation along the Lewis River, remote-controlled equipment at Walla Walla, and Grid Enhancing technologies in Lakeview, Oregon. The work is funded through the Department of Energy's Speed to Power initiative.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Pacific Power received the $50 million grant.
Market Landscape
The award follows the federal push under the Speed to Power initiative to expand transmission capacity and modernize aging grid infrastructure across the Western utility network. It positions Pacific Power to add transmission capability between Oregon and Washington as regional electricity demand grows.
Oregon and Washington electricity customers may see fewer power outages over time if the upgraded transmission capacity is completed. The grant does not specify when customers would notice changes in service reliability or bills.
The takeaway
Federal funding is accelerating transmission upgrades in the Pacific Northwest, which could ease bottlenecks in moving electricity between states. Readers should watch for project timelines and measurable reliability results as the work proceeds.
Further reading
For more on regional power infrastructure, explore Utilities coverage across Oregon.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KATU.
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