Cascade – Rocky Reach 230kV Wildfire Mitigation

Our crews continue to make steady progress on a multi-year structural maintenance program along a 230kV transmission corridor spanning roughly 60 miles between Chelan County’s Rocky Reach Hydro Facilities north of Wenatchee and Puget Sound Energy’s Cascade Substation near Cle Elum, Washington.

This ongoing effort strengthens one of the region’s most critical transmission pathways, crossing rugged mountain terrain and demanding precision planning, resource coordination, and teamwork in challenging environments.

Recent phases of the project have included the replacement of more than two dozen aging three-pole and H-frame structures, as well as targeted repairs and reframing to enhance system reliability and wildfire resilience. Crews from multiple districts, including specialized support mobilized from eastern Montana, have worked long daily shifts averaging 14 to 16 hours, seven days a week, to meet aggressive schedules without compromising safety or quality.

Operating in remote, mountainous terrain brings no shortage of challenges. Limited access, unpredictable weather, and seasonal wildfire conditions have required adaptive strategies and a high degree of collaboration between field crews, logistics, and support teams to keep the work on track.

Despite these obstacles, the results speak for themselves. Every maintenance milestone has been delivered on time, reinforcing the reliability of this essential transmission corridor and ensuring continued service continuity for communities throughout central and western Washington.

As this multi-year initiative continues, our teams remain committed to the same standard of excellence and perseverance that have defined every stage of the project so far.