What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff?
A public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, is when a company like Idaho Power proactively turns off power to a certain area where wildfire risk is high due to extreme weather conditions. The outage is an effort to protect our customers, communities, employees and equipment from wildfire.
A PSPS is a last resort to prevent wildfires. From trimming trees to wrapping poles in fire-resistant mesh to maintaining and inspecting our equipment, wildfire mitigation is part of year-round, everyday operations at Idaho Power.
Where are PSPS events most likely?
Idaho Power has identified geographic zones with higher wildfire risk. Within these zones, we have modified operations to reduce the risk of wildfire during the fire season. These zones receive intensive inspection and vegetation management and are subject to special equipment and operational practices to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Idaho Power has identified the purple zones on the map below where a PSPS event, if necessary, is most likely.
When is a PSPS used?
PSPS events are used only during extreme weather conditions — primarily high winds and dry vegetation — that lead to high fire risk. Many factors go into the decision to call a PSPS. Using forecasts and real-time observations, the following are the primary factors we look at in determining if a PSPS is necessary:
How will customers be notified?
Idaho Power is committed to providing as much advance notice as reasonably possible to help you prepare for a PSPS event. Due to the size of Idaho Power’s service area, geographic and environmental diversity, and the unpredictable nature of the region’s weather, it can be hard to predict the need for a PSPS with much advance warning. However, we’ll keep you informed throughout an event as much as we can using text messages, phone calls and email. You can also look for updates on on our website.
Make sure to update your contact information so we can reach you in an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do to prepare for a PSPS event?Stay informed. Know how to get the latest updates when an outage happens.
Make a plan. Whether you have special medical needs or livestock to water, make sure you’re ready for your unique needs, and those of your loved ones, during a long outage.
- Prepare for medical needs, whether those are related to refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment.
- Build a summer outage kit.
- Find a way to feed and water pets or livestock in case well pumps don’t have power.
Stay safe if the power goes out. If the lights do go out, know how to stay safe and minimize the impact of the outage.
- To protect your appliances, machinery and equipment, turn off any that were in use when the power went out. Make sure to turn off electric ranges to prevent the possibility of a fire if you’re away when power is restored. Keep one light on so you know when power has been restored.
- After power has been restored for about 10 minutes, begin turning back on appliances and lighting in 10-minute phases. This keeps circuits from overloading and helps to more quickly and safely restore everyone’s power.
- If you notice a downed power line, stay at least 100 feet back and report it to Idaho Power by calling 1-800-488-6151.
Learn more about how to prepare for summer outages.
- Prepare now for medical needs, whether those are related to refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment. This could mean finding a place you can go during an outage or buying a backup generator.
- To be connected with community resources during an emergency, call 211.
- For medical emergencies, call 911.
If you already have a My Account profile, you can easily update or confirm your contact information. Don’t have My Account yet? Visit our registration page to set up an online profile. We’ll walk you through a few easy steps to get you started.
You can also update your contact information in the space provided on the bottom of your bill before you send it in or call us at 1-800-488-6151.
Here are ways you can help protect our communities from wildfire:
- Monitor and obey fire restrictions.
- Use designated fire rings provided at campgrounds.
- Fully extinguish your campfire after use.
- Follow all firework laws and keep a hose nearby when lighting fireworks.
- Consider using glow sticks instead of sparklers.
- Never park or start a vehicle on dry grass.
- Keep trailer chains from dragging along roads.
- Check trailer tires for proper air pressure, and ensure the rubber is in good condition.
- Never throw cigarettes from vehicles.
- Obtain appropriate fire permits (depending on type and location of fire).
- Create a defensible space around your home.
- Have a power outage kit ready.
Idaho Power is investing in grid improvements to protect the grid from wildfires and reduce the chance of starting fires. We’re also:
- Upgrading poles, conductors and switches.
- Increasing equipment inspections by ground and air.
- Wrapping wood poles with fire-resistant mesh.
- Adding spark-prevention equipment to power lines in highest-risk areas.
- Monitoring and clearing vegetation around power lines.
- Treating ground around wood poles to keep vegetation from becoming fuel for fires.
- Conducting daily weather forecasts during wildfire season to monitor fire risk and change our operations if necessary.
Our Wildfire Mitigation Plan assesses wildfire risk in every corner of our service area to make sure we’re operating in a safe, responsible manner.
A PSPS is the last resort in wildfire prevention, but should one be necessary, it is guided by the following goals:
- Safety: protecting employees, customers and the general public
- Collaboration: working with customers and public safety partners
- Minimizing risk: working to reduce the risk of wildfire but also the impacts of extended power outages
- Reliability: protecting people and equipment to restore reliable service to our customers and communities
For assistance with a PDF on this page or to request a PDF in an alternate format, please contact Customer Service at 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151
