Electrical System Project
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the reliability, resilience and safety of our utility system, we are conducting a comprehensive study of our electrical distribution system this summer. This study and the resulting plan will provide the necessary information and a prioritized roadmap for restoration and improvement of this critical infrastructure.
To perform this work safely, our utility P3 partners, Sacyr/Plenary and McKinstry, will shut down power to all buildings on campus in a series of planned shutdowns from June 17 to July 31. Each shutdown will begin at 7 a.m. and last approximately 10 hours.
By shutting down limited zones of the campus in succession versus concurrently, we can accommodate this work while keeping the majority of buildings open and continuing normal summer operations. Planned shutdowns are scheduled around most events, camps and other activities to minimize disruption.
Affected Buildings
- Administration Building — June 20, 25, 26
Point of Contact: Lee Espey/Dan Ewart/OIT - Ag Biology — June 19
Point of Contact: Madison McGuire - Ag Science
Point of Contact: Madison McGuire/Mark McGuire/Brett Dillon for HVAC Renovation- 1951 — June 19
- 1972 — June 19
- Albertson Building — June 25, 26
Point of Contact: Sanjay Sisodiya - Archie Phinney Hall — June 27; July 22
Point of Contact: Darrell Stout - Art and Architecture — June 20
Point of Contact: Shauna Corry- East — Network Outage June 28; July 22
- North — June 25
- Shop — June 25
- South — June 25, 26
- University Advancement Annex — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Megan Pratt
- Blake House — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Building Alert - Bookstore — June 27
Point of Contact: Tricia Durgin - Brink Hall — June 27; July 22
Point of Contact: Darrell Stout - Bruce M. Pitman Center — June 27
Point of Contact: Scott Fleischman - Buchanan Engineering Lab — June 27
Point of Contact: Ray Anderson
- Chip Storage Drying Facility — June 28
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard - Chip Storage Scalehouse — June 17
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard
- Dairy Center — Network Outage June 28; July 22
- Education Building — June 28
Point of Contact: Renee Hanson/Brooke Blevins - Energy Plant — June 19
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard - Engineering Physics — June 27
Point of Contact: Ray Anderson/John Hiller
- Facilities Greenhouse — June 17
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard - FMO — June 28
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard - Food Research Center — June 27; July 22
Point of Contact: Madison McGuire/Shelley McGuire - Mary E. Forney Hall — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Leigh Cooper/Megan Pratt
- Gauss Johnson Engineering Lab — June 27
Point of Contact: Ray Anderson - Gibb Hall — June 20
Point of Contact: Tanya Miura, Amy Maestas - Golf Course Water Tank
- AG Pavilion/Vandal Meats — Network Outage June 28; July 25
- Beef Barn — Network Outage June 28; July 25
- Farm Ops — Network Outage June 28; July 25
- Hampton Music Building — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Sean Butterfield - Hays Hall — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Nancy Anderson/Shelley McGuire/Megan Pratt/Mandi Roberts - Housing Storage — June 28
Point of Contact: Randy Smith/Rusty Vineyard
- ICCU Arena — June 28
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler - Intermodal Transit Center — June 26
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - IRIC — June 27
Point of Contact: Russell McClanahan - TLC/ISUB
Point of Contact: Scott Fleischman- North — June 27; July 22
- South — June 19; July 24
- Janssen Engineering Building — June 27
Point of Contact: Ray Anderson
- P1FCU Kibbie Dome
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler- East — June 18, 28
- North — June 28
- South — June 18, 28
- Library — June 18, 28
Point of Contact: Ben Hunter - Life Sciences South — June 20
Point of Contact: Tanya Miura - LLC — June 19
Point of Contact: Correy Ray/John Kosh - Lot 25 Lighting — June 19
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - Lot 31 Lighting — June 18, 28; July 25
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - Lot 34 and 57 Lighting — June 28
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - Lot 60 — June 26
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb
- Mary E. Forney Hall — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Leigh Cooper/Megan Pratt - McClure Hall — June 27
Point of Contact: Ray Anderson/Renee Jensen-Hasfurther/Alistair Smith - McConnell Hall — June 19
Point of Contact: Corey Ray/John Kosh - Meats Lab — June 17
- Memorial Gym — June 28; July 30, 31
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler/Anthony Frank - Mines — June 27
Point of Contact: Lorrie Williams/Alistair Smith/Renee Jensen-Hasfurther - Morrill Hall — June 27; July 22
Point of Contact: Lisa Snyder
- NAMEC — June 27
Point of Contact: Yolanda Bisbee - Natural Resources — June 27
Point of Contact: Dorah Mtui/Darrell Stout/Steven Hacker/Lee Vierling - Nez Perce Drive Lighting — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - Nicolls Building, Gas, I-Tank — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Nancy Anderson/Shelley McGuire
- Bruce M. Pitman Center — June 27
Point of Contact: Scott Fleischman - P1FCU Kibbie Dome
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler- East — June 18, 28
- North — June 28
- South — June 18, 28
- Physical Education Building — June 28
Point of Contact: Renee Hanson/Philip Scruggs
- Radio/TV Center — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Glenn Mosley/Mike Cramblit/Justin Hinrichs - Rayburn Street Tennis Courts — June 18, 28
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler - Renfrew Hall — June 19
Point of Contact: Cindy Ball - Ridenbaugh Hall — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Building Alert
- Seen Potato Germplasm — June 17
Point of Contact: Madison McGuire/Mark McGuire/Brett Dillon for HVAC Renovation - Shattuck Arboretum — June 18, 28
Point of Contact: Ken McCurry - Shoup Hall — June 19
Point of Contact: Robert Caisley - SRC — June 19
Point of Contact: Brian Mahoney - South Campus Chiller Plant — June 28
Point of Contact: Paul Woods/Scott Smith - Sprinturf — June 18, 28
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler - Stadium Drive to HWY 8 — June 19
Point of Contact: Stuart Robb - Student Health — June 20
Point of Contact: Dean of Students/ROTC - Swimming Center — June 28
Point of Contact: Dan Lawson
- Theophilus Tower — June 19
Point of Contact: Corey Ray/John Kosh - TLC/ISUB
Point of Contact: Scott Fleischman- North — June 27; July 22
- South — June 19
- Track and Field Facility — June 28; July 25
Point of Contact: KC Sheffler
- University Advancement Annex — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Megan Pratt - University House — June 20, 26
Point of Contact: Mark Stanton
- VandalStore — June 27
Point of Contact: Tricia Durgin - Virtual Technology and Interior Design — June 27; July 22
Point of Contact: Shauna Corry
- Wallace Complex
Point of Contact: Corey Ray/John Kosh- Stevenson — June 19
- Gooding — June 19
- Ballard — June 19
- Willey — June 19
- Cafeteria — June 19
- Trash Compactor — No longer impacted
Point of Contact: Scott Fleischman
Buildings Not Impacted
- J.W. Martin Lab
- 6th Street Greenhouses
- West Farm
- Hartung Theater
- Early Childhood Center – Admin
- WWAMI – Admin
- Forge Theater
- Menard Law
- Golf Course
- Wicks Field Bathrooms
- South Hill Apartments
FAQ
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the reliability, resilience and safety of our utility system, we are conducting a comprehensive study of our electrical distribution system this summer. This study and the resulting plan will provide the necessary information and a prioritized roadmap for restoration and improvement of this critical infrastructure.
To perform this work safely, our partners will shut down power to all buildings on campus in a series of planned shutdowns over approximately 17 non-sequential days during the 6-week period from Monday, June 17 through Wednesday, July 31.
Each outage will start at 7 a.m. and last approximately 10 hours. If shortened, building occupants will be notified of an early startup.
Each employee should work with their supervisor and building representative to determine if critical equipment must be shut down or unplugged before the outage. Additionally, lab animals, refrigerated or frozen samples and other sensitive research must be cared for to prevent loss. Research and college leadership are working closely with Facilities and PIs to ensure that plans and contingencies are in place to ensure research integrity and care for animals. If you have additional questions, please work with your building contact to coordinate support.
The Office of Information Technology notes that although not mandatory, they strongly advise that computers, monitors, printers/copiers, conference room equipment and other electronic devices be powered off prior to the outage to minimize the risk of surge damage. These devices should remain plugged in.
No. The primary VPN gateway has a backup power source, so no outage is expected. Users will not be able to remote into their desktop in a building without power.
Evaluate your space to ensure nothing is damaged. However, if there is damage to computer equipment, please get in touch with OIT. If needing to report damages related to the power outages, please review question 12.
The schedule for shutdowns is listed above and is sorted alphabetically by building name. Please refer to the schedule for all shutdown dates for your building along with your point of contact.
Buildings that will not be affected are listed above or under question 9.
No. Most buildings will experience multiple electrical outages. However, the following buildings will not be affected by this project:
- J.W. Martin Lab
- 6th Street Greenhouses
- West Farm
- Hartung Theater
- Early Childhood Center — Admin
- WWAMI — Admin
- Forge Theater
- Menard Law
- Golf Course
- Wicks Field Bathrooms
- South Hill Apartments
No. Occupants may not enter or work in a building during the planned electrical outage, except under approved circumstances because additional hazards exist, and life-safety systems may be inoperable without electricity.
Yes. Employees should work unless on approved leave. Each building and its occupants have different work needs. Supervisors should work with employees to develop strategies to continue work or plan leave during these shutdowns. These strategies can include:
- Work from home where possible (this could include assignment of special projects that an employee would not normally do).
- Allow for the use of annual leave.
- Allow for flexwork options to work alternative hours/shifts.
- Find alternative space on campus where work can be conducted.
- Different work assignments during the shutdown period that could be done at an alternate location.
- Special projects.
- Professional development.
Please contact Facilities at 208-885-8888.
In the event equipment is damaged due to the power outage, a property loss report should be completed so the incident can be communicated to the Office of Risk Management.
Not in all cases. However, if you are experiencing any trouble, please contact Facilities to coordinate any troubleshooting and or relighting. The following buildings will have impacts related to a NG outage:
- Niccolls
- LLC Bldg. #1 (True Burger)
- ISUB Kitchen
- Renfrew
Facilities will place signage on external doors the day prior to any shutdown and remove them once the shutdown(s) is complete.
Access control to buildings without power will be impacted by the outages. However, buildings with power should not be affected, except for Art and Architecture East and the Dairy, which lose card reader functionality when Morill is powered down.
Your building may be in the situation of having power but losing network access after 1 p.m. This is because the network access is fed from the Admin building, and when it loses power, the battery backups for the network equipment will only last approximately six hours. Your best option is to save your work often. When you notice that you have lost network access, you will no longer be able to access the internet, applications or storage. You don't need to turn your computer off if you lose network access, as it should come back automatically, but we recommend you reboot your computer if you have any issues after the outage is resolved. If issues persist, please get in touch with your TSP or submit a ticket at oit.uidaho.edu.