Beaverton is among 51 cities that could face power outages if about 30 grid workers at Portland General Electric's Tualatin operations center walk off the job this weekend.
The workers, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 125, set an August 2 strike deadline after more than two years without a contract.
IBEW Local 125 filed a formal 30-day strike notice on Wednesday, July 1, according to the union.
The timing raises the stakes: Oregon had 87 active wildfires burning statewide as of Monday, July 27, with more than 1 million acres scorched during the 2026 fire season, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, as reported by KOIN.
The system operators at PGE's Integrated Operations Center are the people who de-energize and re-energize transmission lines when fires threaten, making their absence a direct public safety concern.
"It's the height of wildfire season and there are over 85 wildfires burning in Central Oregon alone right now," Brandon Ek, a transmission system operator and 26-year PGE employee, said in a July 23 statement issued through the union.
"If we're forced to strike because management is stalling, we don't have much of a choice."
What the operators do
The 30 system operators work out of PGE's 108,000-square-foot Integrated Operations Center off Southwest 124th Avenue in Tualatin, a facility that opened in 2022.
They monitor electricity flow for more than 950,000 customers across 51 cities, prevent circuit overloads, and track fires near energized power lines.
Why the dispute stalled
The operators unionized with IBEW Local 125 in June 2024. More than two years later, no collective bargaining agreement has been reached. Eri said in a Thursday, July 23 announcement reported by KPTV that PGE proposed concessions including pay cuts and removing workers from the pension plan, prompting the strike notice.
PGE's response
PGE said in a Tuesday, July 28 statement that it has comprehensive plans and a team of trained, federally certified grid operators ready to maintain service if a strike occurs. The company said negotiations are continuing and there is still time to reach an agreement.
PGE said it remains committed to reaching a deal that recognizes employees' contributions while maintaining consistent compensation and benefits across its workforce.
What's next
The strike could begin as early as Sunday, August 2. Beaverton residents served by PGE should monitor the utility's outage page and have emergency supplies ready in case of disruptions.
