Rocky Mountain Power issues public safety power shutoff warning for central and southern Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Rocky Mountain Power is closely monitoring weather conditions that include the potential for elevated winds and extreme fire conditions in some portions of Cedar City, Dixie, Enterprise Valley, Milford, and some portions of Richfield, Utah. The company has issued a Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning for that area. A Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning means the company plans to de-energize its power lines and equipment in the next 24 hours if conditions create an extreme risk of wildfire ignition.

Some portions of Cedar City, Panguitch, and some portions of Richfield, Utah, remain in a Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch today. Customers in these areas should prepare for a potential outage this weekend. Additional notifications will be sent to Warning and Watch customers before power is turned off.

"Community safety and reducing wildfire risks remain our top priorities, and we continue to make decisions based on the most accurate real-time data available,” said Pete Singh, Rocky Mountain Power incident commander. “Based on updated weather forecasts and real-time modeling, the area and number of customers who may be impacted by a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff has been reduced.  We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely and will keep customers informed as we work to protect the communities we serve." 

A temporary Community Resource Center will be available to customers for charging devices, staying cool and accessing other amenities. A Community Resource Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or until power has been restored, at The Heritage Center, 105 North 100 East, Cedar City, Utah.  

The 4,644 customers in the potential Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning and the 1,698 customers in the potential Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch areas have been notified through phone calls, emails and text messages. Customers will continue to receive notifications if a Public Safety Power Shutoff is necessary or if the Warning is canceled. Rocky Mountain Power is coordinating with local public safety partners and leaders and staging additional restoration personnel and resources prior to de-energization. In the event of a power shutoff, employees will complete a visual inspection of power lines and equipment and make needed repairs before power is restored.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a preventative measure to protect against wildfire in the face of hazardous fire weather conditions, including extreme low humidity, dry vegetation, elevated winds and changes in key weather indexes. Current local area forecasts indicate Public Safety Power Shutoff thresholds for those conditions could be met as early as 7 a.m. on Saturday, and continue through noon on Sunday.

Rocky Mountain Power urges customers to follow local public safety agency recommendations, have a plan and prepare an emergency kit. Customers requiring electricity for medical needs should contact Rocky Mountain Power Customer Service at 1-888-221-7070. Rocky Mountain Power encourages property managers and landlords to share this safety information with tenants who may be impacted.

Visit RockyMountainPower.net/PSPS for additional information on Public Safety Power Shutoffs and company wildfire mitigation practices and updates.