Emergency and Closure Information

BPA is following maximum telework guidance in response to the COVID-19 event.

Employees and contract personnel who need to retrieve essential equipment to telework, will have one more opportunity to access their workspaces briefly on Wednesday, March 25.

Access will only be granted to retrieve laptops, files and other equipment needed to work at home for an extended period. Access may not be used to disassemble workstations, to work or to conduct meetings. We expect that most member of the workforce have already gained access to the building to retrieve their equipment. For those still in need of equipment, access will be staggered to minimize the number of people on any given floor or workspace, and granted according to the schedule below. Please remember, do not come into the building if you aren’t feeling well or if you have had contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms.  

BPA is working with local, county and state entities to ensure that our mission essential personnel as well as critical support workforce are able to move about as needed to report to their place of work in the event of a shelter in place or similar order or action. Also, we are working with those entities to ensure that our workers responding to emergency outages have the ability to move about freely to restore power and maintain reliability of the grid.

Bottom line: Mission essential and critical support employees should continue to report to work in the event of a shelter-in-place order.

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor to discuss them. If you’re feeling anxious, BPA has 24-hour access available to counseling support. For more information, visit the Employee Assistance Program page.

Please contact your manager with questions.  This information will be updated as needed. If access is required by non-essential personnel, please contact your manager and have them submit a request to continuity@bpa.gov including date, time period, and purpose.
 
IT Remote Access Info:
BPA PIV VPN UserGuide
Accessing myPC remotely (Windows)
Accessing myPC remotely (Mac)

BPA Internal Communications (requires BPA network access)
BPA COVID-19 FAQ

For recorded information, call: 503-230-3333.

Telework 
Employees and contract personnel who do not have current telework agreements should be in contact with their managers. Until further notice, telework plans can now be authorized, or modified, via email in order to expedite arrangements in lieu of a signed agreement. The email must include the employee’s request and the manager’s approval.

Employees and contract personnel in a telework status who have BPA-issued laptops should use VPN to work remotely, not MyPC. Employees and contract personnel who elect to telework but do not have an issued laptop can access MyPC on a non-BPA computer. If you have never accessed MyPC on a non-BPA computer contact the IT Helpdesk at 503-230-4357. Help Desk personnel will work remotely and be available during normal operating hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you have concerns regarding current guidelines and telework status, go to the BPA Coronavirus and flu FAQs. If those do not answer your question, or if you have a more unique circumstance, please contact your manager or HR Help at 503-230-3230.

The Incident Management Team continues to evaluate and identify new processes to support BPA operations. Guidance will be issued as soon as new information is available.

BPA’s actions are consistent with guidance we are receiving from the federal coronavirus taskforce. Additionally, the Incident Management Team continues to monitor local, regional and national conditions and is following guidance established by the CDC, local health departments and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

BPA is committed to taking the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of our workforce and ensure we can continue to serve our utility customers and the communities who depend on us for reliable power and transmission service.