Vandals Cause Power Outage in Lebanon Area; BPA Offering $25,000 Reward

Vandals used firearms to shoot out insulators on a Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

(LEBANON) - The Bonneville Power Administration is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for causing a four-hour outage to Consumers Power Inc.’s Lebanon Substation August 15th.

The vandalism to BPA’s Green Peter-Lebanon 115-kilovolt line occurred in a densely wooded area approximately 11 miles east of Lebanon.

The line faulted at 6:22 PM, and power to the Lebanon Substation was restored at 10:28 PM.

When insulators are damaged in this way, power flowing over the line can go to ground, presenting a serious safety hazard – even the potential for electrocution – to people or livestock in the vicinity of the transmission tower.

During dry, hot weather, this uninsulated flow of electricity to ground also presents a fire hazard.

In addition to safety issues, vandalism and other crimes cost BPA’s ratepayers $500,000 to $1 million a year in direct costs of replacing stolen or damaged equipment.

This figure does not account for lost revenues and economic losses to electricity customers due to power interruptions.

Anyone having any information on this case should call the BPA’s Crime Witness Hotline at (800) 437-2744.

The line is confidential, and rewards are issued in such a way that the caller’s identity remains confidential

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Bob Bilderborough August 20, 2006 6:43 pm (Pacific time)

The Gwen System is already in place and is not dependant on conventional energy. You guy's are screwed as far as your freedom is concerned. Your all like rats trapped in a cage and we hold the key! ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa!

Tim King August 19, 2006 4:48 pm (Pacific time)

I'm looking into the GWEN system, thanks.

Albert Marnell August 19, 2006 11:31 am (Pacific time)

I was typing so fast and was so angry that I forgot to add the word Wave in Ground Wave Emergency Network System in my last comment.

Am in the PM August 19, 2006 10:28 am (Pacific time)

Tim, Please tell the public about the GWEN System. This is supposed to be a democracy with freedom of speech. The sooner people are educated the sooner they will lay off of electrical towers like Green Peter. As far as I am concerned, if some astute people determine that a tower is a GWEN, they could do whatever they want to it. Americans have a right to protect themselves from an out of control government. The police are not educated enough to help the people that pay their salaries. They should also be against the Ground Emergency Network System..... it is evil. It is not benign. But eventually the people behind this stuff will come out and call it nutty conspiracy as they always do. People will watch television and most idiots will believe it. The police should be against this system and fight for the American People!

Albert Marnell August 19, 2006 8:52 am (Pacific time)

Are you guys still searching the Ground-Wave Emergency Network, otherwise known as GWEN Towers? People should know about it and know the difference between an innocent tower and a GWEN Tower.

Albert Marnell August 19, 2006 5:13 am (Pacific time)

Read about Gwen Towers. Search for it on Google. Towers are not always innocent structures. (No, Gwen Towers is not a woman!)

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