Rocky Mountain Power closely monitoring for wildfire risk and possible Public Safety Power Shutoffs in Northern Utah

Rocky Mountain Power is closely monitoring weather conditions in wildfire high risk areas in Northern Utah and may issue a Public Safety Power Shutoff this week.  

Current forecasted weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday — low humidity, dry vegetation, winds and elevated counts on key weather indexes — could meet the criteria for a Public Safety Power Shutoff in the Sundance and Summit Park communities.

Some areas we serve are at an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires. As a safety precaution, electricity could be turned off in wildfire high risk areas during extreme weather events for public safety in an effort to prevent a catastrophic wildfire. The measure would only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety. 

The goal is to impact as few customers as possible in pre-identified areas through a highly-targeted, circuit-by-circuit manner in the event a Public Safety Power Shutoff is used.

Public Safety Power Shutoff events are part of the utility’s comprehensive wildfire prevention plan, which includes additional safety inspections, upgrades to the grid system, and weather stations to monitor for hazardous conditions.

Rocky Mountain Power first introduced Public Safety Power Shutoffs to customers last year in communities where the new wildfire mitigation measure could potentially be implemented.

Turning off power during a Public Safety Power Shutoff is done to prevent a spark from happening when wind-blown or falling debris make contact with power lines. For example, high winds can blow objects such as branches onto power lines. Once extreme weather conditions have subsided, Rocky Mountain Power will complete line inspections and re-energize the lines.

Customers will receive follow-up notifications in advance should a shut-off event be initiated. For all non-emergency questions about the Public Safety Power Shutoff watch, customers and the public should call Rocky Mountain Power at 1-888-221-7070. Customers should also update their contact information to allow the company to provide emergency updates.

Visit rockymountainpower.net/wildfiresafety for additional information on Public Safety Power Shutoffs and wildfire mitigation practices.