CPFM Utilities and Energy will perform Island Mode testing on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 am and 1:00 pm. Utilities and Energy staff will switch the entire campus in and out of Island Mode five times during this process (see schedule below). Each test will begin at the top of the hour, shifting off of EWEB’s electrical grid and onto our own power generation system (called Island Mode). At 25-minutes after the hour, we will exit out of Island Mode and return back to EWEB’s power source. As a result, short duration power outages may occur at any time throughout the testing period. The electrical distribution system redundancy and resiliencies depend upon the properly functioning power generation system and island mode capabilities.
Thank you for your patience as we resolve our issues related to exiting island mode with our emergency equipment. On-site personnel will include the original electrical engineer that designed the system, ASCO technicians and a new company that brings more resiliency and oversight for Utilities and Energy.
- 8:00 am – 8:05 am Execute 1st island mode test.
- 8:25 am – 8:30 am Exit island mode.
- 9:00 am – 9:05 am Execute 2nd island mode test.
- 9:25 am – 9:30 am Exit island mode.
- 10:00 am – 10:05 am Execute 3rd island mode test.
- 10:25 am – 10:30am Exit island mode.
- 11:00 am – 11:05 am Execute 4th island mode test.
- 11:25 am – 11:30 am Exit island mode.
- 12:00 noon – 12:05 pm Execute 5th island mode test.
- 12:25 pm – 12:30 pm Exit island mode.
- 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Monitor campus electrical systems, insure systems normal and all testing complete.
- 1:00 pm Testing complete and an all-clear message sent from Work Control Center.
Network Impacts: When any building’s power is off, its wired and wireless networks will also stop working. During the Sept. 6 power testing:
Expect intermittent campuswide network outages.
- Localized lingering network outages may occur if network devices fail. If so, Information Services staff will post notices on the IT Service Status website. Recovery will begin after CPFM issues its all-clear message and could take a day or longer.
Information Services (IS) offers the following guidance about protecting electronic devices from power surges during the Sept. 6 power testing.
Before the Testing – Turn Off Electronics
Most electronic devices that plug into wall sockets should be shut down and unplugged before the power testing begins. Such devices can be damaged by the power surge when the power is turned back on. Even surge protectors don’t guarantee that sensitive devices will be preserved.
Who needs to take action depends on the type and location of the equipment:
- Individual computers and devices:
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- Shut down and unplug desktop computer, dock, printer, and other sensitive electronics.
- Unplug laptops.
- Classrooms scheduled by the Office of the Registrar:
- IS staff will shut down audiovisual equipment in general pool and joint-controlled classrooms.
- Other classrooms and non-classroom areas:
- Sensitive devices include research equipment, multifunction copiers, videoconference systems, digital display panels, microwaves, and Crestron control systems and other AV equipment.
- Preparations may be handled by the User Support Services team in Information Services, by departmental IT staff where applicable, or by other departmental staff, following existing patterns of support.
- IS User Support Services will contact departments they support to coordinate specifics.
After Testing Ends – Restart Electronic Devices
- IS staff will turn on AV equipment in general pool and joint-controlled classrooms, prioritizing spaces with active classes. That process could take several days. To request faster service restoration for specific classrooms, please submit a ticket through the classroom technology support page in the UO Service Portal.
- IS staff also plan to turn on other equipment that they shut down before the testing. However, please feel free to restart such devices once the testing is complete.
Work Performed By: CPFM Utilities & Energy
Contacts:
- Technology impacts and preparations: The IS User Support Services team that supports your unit or your department’s IT staff, as applicable.
- All other concerns: Work Control Center, Campus Planning and Facilities Management, 541-346-2319
Locations not included in the testing:
Oak Street
E. Broadway
942 Olive
1600 Millrace
1715 Franklin
1900 Millrace
Alder Building
Autzen Stadium
Baker Downtown Center (975 High St.)
Casanova Athletics
EC Cares Buildings (1500 W. 12th Ave plus modules)
Fleet Services (Glenwood) (3233 Franklin Blvd.)
Hatfield-Dowlin Complex
KWAX (75 Centennial Loop)
McMorran House (2315 McMorran Drive)
Moshofsky Sports
PeaceHealth North (677 12th Ave.)
PK Park
Rainier (1244 Walnut St.)
Randy and Susie Pape Complex
Romania Warehouse (2020 Franklin Blvd.)
South A Warehouse (1199 South A St., Spfld.)
Thompson University Center (720 E. 13th Ave.)
Transportation Services (1401 Walnut St.)
Tree Tops (2237 Spring Blvd.)
UOPD East Station (2141 E. 15th Ave.)
Current construction and impacts information can be found on the UO Maps site.
