Central Oregon Power Grid Upgrade Plans Spark Debate Over Transmission Line Routes
Prineville, OR – November 12, 2025 – Pacific Power is initiating a public input phase as it plans a notable upgrade to Central Oregon’s electricity transmission infrastructure, a project necessary to meet growing energy demands but raising concerns about visual impact and land use. The company forecasts a need to increase capacity from approximately 4,400 megawatts currently to 5,400 MW by 2032, representing an annual growth rate of 2.2%.
The proposed project involves constructing a new 180-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line spanning portions of Deschutes, Crook, Klamath, and Lake counties. The line aims to increase transfer capability by 1,500 megawatts, connecting Klamath Falls to Prineville and integrating with the wider regional grid. Bend and Redmond are located between these key points.
Pacific Power is prioritizing routes that run parallel to existing transmission lines where feasible, but multiple proposed routes are under consideration. Key concerns raised by residents include the feasibility of undergrounding the lines – deemed too expensive and challenging to maintain – and the potential use of eminent domain, which the company says it will attempt to avoid through voluntary easement agreements.
The planned transmission structures will be between 160 and 180 feet tall with a 250-foot right of way.While pacific Power asserts the height and maintenance protocols will reduce wildfire risk, residents are also expressing concerns about the impact of the towers on Central Oregon’s scenic vistas.
Detailed maps and project facts are available on the Pacific Power website: https://tinyurl.com/PPtransmission. Project construction is currently slated to begin in 2029, with route selection occurring prior to that date. Pacific power is actively soliciting public input during this planning phase.
