Peak Electric Group warns Columbia County homeowners to install backup power before wildfire season

Peak Electric Group is urging homeowners in Columbia County and the Portland area to get backup power systems properly installed before wildfire season and planned shutoffs intensify. The company says short-notice Public Safety Power Shutoffs can leave rural homes without water, sanitation or medical power, making advance installation and inspection critical.

Why it matters: - Columbia County homeowners can lose grid power on short notice during wildfire season, and backup power mistakes can put utility workers and households at risk. - Rural homes are especially exposed because outages can quickly stop well pumps, septic systems and powered medical equipment.

What happened: - Peak Electric Group is urging homeowners across Columbia County and the greater Portland area to have backup power properly installed and inspected before the peak wildfire season window. - The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved utility wildfire mitigation plans for the 2026 season, and those plans include Public Safety Power Shutoff procedures. - Portland General Electric says it can shut off power anywhere in its service area when conditions are unsafe and aims to provide 24 to 48 hours of advance notice, but a final notice may come only one to four hours before the outage. - Peak Electric Group said homeowners should not wait until a shutoff notice arrives to start planning.

The details: - Peak Electric Group says the most dangerous backup-power shortcut is running a cord from a portable generator into a dryer outlet or wiring a generator directly into a panel without a transfer switch. - An improper generator connection can backfeed electricity onto the utility line and energize conductors that workers and neighbors assume are dead. - The company says backfeeding is a known cause of serious injury and death among utility workers during restoration work. - Portable generators also create carbon monoxide and should never be operated in a garage, crawlspace, shed or near an open window or vent, even with the door open. - A code-compliant installation can include a transfer switch and inlet for a portable generator or a permanently wired standby generator. - That process requires a panel capacity assessment, a permit, installation and an inspection. - Many older homes also need panel or service upgrades before backup power can be added. - Homeowners can check utility wildfire risk maps to see whether their address is in a higher-risk area. - Homeowners should also confirm that utility account contact details are current so shutoff alerts reach them. - Peak Electric Group is licensed in Oregon and Washington and handles panel and service upgrades, whole-home rewires, HVAC wiring, electrical troubleshooting and generator installation. - The company can be reached at 503-397-7818. - Peak Electric Group is based in Scappoose, Oregon, and serves the greater Columbia County area including Portland, Vancouver and Hillsboro. - The company is a member of NECA and a signatory with IBEW Local 48. - Peak Electric Group holds Oregon CCB #206443 and Washington license #PEAKEEG854KA. - The company is located at 50425 Columbia River Hwy., Scappoose, OR 97056.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a practical bottleneck, not just a safety message: generator projects take time, and demand rises sharply after the first outage or shutoff of the season. - Older homes face a second hurdle because electrical infrastructure may need upgrading before a backup system can be installed at all. - The company’s message also reframes backup power as a planning issue, not an emergency purchase.

What's next: - Homeowners who want standby power will need to schedule assessments, permitting, installation and inspection before wildfire-related outages become more likely. - Residents in higher-risk zones should verify their utility contact information now so alerts are not missed. - Peak Electric Group says it is available for generator installation and related electrical work as homeowners prepare for shutoff season.

The bottom line: - In wildfire season, the safest backup-power setup is the one installed before the lights go out, not after the shutdown notice arrives.