Public Safety Power Shutoff

Timeline for a Public Safety Power Shutoff

3 to 7 days before: Hazardous weather conditions are forecasted that could lead to a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Pacific Power is actively monitoring those conditions.

Up to 2 days before: Once extreme weather conditions and other hazardous variables (such as extreme drought) are met and sustained, Rocky Mountain Power begins coordinating with local officials. Customers receive first notification of a possible Public Safety Power Shutoff.

1 day before: Continue monitoring extreme wildfire conditions. Coordination between Rocky Mountain Power and local officials continues. Customers in potential shutoff area receive additional notice including why a Public Safety Power Shutoff might occur, number of customers potentially impacted, area impacted, potential event timeline and if resource centers are opening.

Power shutoff: Extreme wildfire conditions remain and on-the-ground coordination continues. Customers in affected area receive third notification that power will be turned off to prevent wildfire ignition.

Power restoration: Extreme wildfire conditions have lessened. Rocky Mountain Power crews patrol lines to inspect for damage and hanging debris. Power is restored once all lines are cleared and once repairs are made. Customers receive a fourth notification that power has been restored.

High wildfire risk areas identified on the interactive map could experience a Public Safety Power Shutoff when on-the-ground and weather conditions create an extreme wildfire risk that could lead to loss of life, catastrophic damage and be difficult to fight.

We look at a range of factors before considering using a Public Safety Power Shutoff for community safety.

• Dry trees and brush and other potential wildfire fuel
• High, sustained winds
• Extremely low humidity
• Current and forecasted weather conditions from multiple third parties and our own weather stations 
• Population density
• Real-time observation from on-the-ground experts
• Input from local public safety and health agencies

No single factor, such as high winds, would necessitate a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

We anticipate that Public Safety Power Shutoffs will be rare in our service area. While it is impossible to predict the long-term impacts of climate change on future wildfire seasons, we do not expect Public Safety Power Shutoffs to be a common occurrence. This measure would only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety.

A number of variables are used to predict how long a Public Safety Power Shutoff would last, based on real-time factors. The shutoff would continue until the risk has passed, after which line inspection and power restoration will occur.

We will use all communication channels available to us to notify customers. This includes outbound calls, text messages, social media updates, media advisories, website banners and alerts.

If you rely on electricity- or battery-dependent medical technologies such as breathing machines, a power wheelchair or scooter, and home oxygen or dialysis, it is critical that you have a plan in place for a power outage during all seasons, year-round.

If you or someone in your household has electricity-dependent medical needs, please contact us at 1-888-221-7070 or use our contact form to let us know about your medical situation. 

We rely on customers to self-identify as having medical needs dependent on electricity so we can provide additional outreach prior to a Public Safety Power Shutoff.

Careful and comprehensive computation modeling which incorporates historic weather data, local terrain, vegetation (both understory and canopy fuels) in addition to the presence of people and homes help determine if an area is at elevated or extreme risk for rapid wildfire spread.