A public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, is when a company like Idaho Power proactively turns off power to an area where wildfire risk is high due to extreme weather conditions. The outage is an effort to keep our communities safe.
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. During times of elevated fire risk, we can also limit automatic re-energization of tripped lines or increase the sensitivity of devices that automatically de-energize our powerlines. While these measures may result in more frequent or longer outages for customers living in or near wildfire risk zones, it’s an important tool in decreasing wildfire risk and keeping our communities safe.
For more details on our PSPS plan, watch this presentation from a June 6, 2024 virtual meeting.
Where are PSPS events most likely?
All customers should be prepared for outages, including a PSPS. Customers living in or near wildfire risk zones are more likely to experience a PSPS than others. Idaho Power has identified geographic zones with higher wildfire risk due to factors like vegetation, weather patterns, fire history, and structure density. For example, intense fires are more likely in forested areas than places with only low-growing vegetation like grasses.
In higher risk zones, we have changed 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.
Search for an address on the map below to see if it falls within an area more likely to experience a PSPS, as shown in purple (visible once you zoom or search). Active PSPS events will display in orange. “Active” means we are asking customers to prepare for a possible PSPS, not necessarily that the power is out. This map is subject to change.
= Active (customers should prepare for an outage, but power may not yet be out)
= Inactive
= Service area
Customers outside active PSPS areas may also experience outages due to high winds and increased protection settings on our lines that help prevent wildfire ignitions. These settings allow power lines to automatically turn off much more quickly than they normally would when a fault is detected, reducing the chance that debris blowing in the wind will touch the lines and spark a wildfire. As in the case of a PSPS, these outages may last longer than normal since we’ll need to inspect the lines to make sure we can re-energize them safely.
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:
PSPS events are NOT a result of customer growth or increasing demand for electricity.
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. The company’s atmospheric scientists use weather stations to monitor fire conditions throughout our service area. These observations can help us inform customers of potential PSPS conditions.
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. As much as we can, we’ll keep you informed throughout an event using text messages, phone calls, and email. You can also look for updates on our website.
Make sure to update your contact information so we can reach you in an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Qué es un corte de suministro eléctrico por razones de seguridad pública?
Un corte de suministro eléctrico por razones de seguridad pública, o PSPS por sus siglas en inglés, ocurre cuando una empresa como Idaho Power apaga de forma proactiva la energía en un área donde el riesgo de incendios forestales es alto debido a condiciones climáticas extremas. El apagón es un esfuerzo para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades.
Un corte PSPS es un último recurso de prevención contra incendios forestales. Idaho Power nunca ha llamado a un corte PSPS, aunque la compañía a veces ha cortado la energía a algunas líneas eléctricas para proteger a los bomberos en el área. En Idaho Power, la mitigación de incendios forestales forma parte de las operaciones cotidianas a lo largo del año, que van desde la poda de árboles y envolver postes con malla especial contra incendios, a dar mantenimiento e inspeccionar nuestros equipos.
Zonas con mayor probabilidad de cortes PSPS
Idaho Power identifica las zonas con mayor riesgo de incendios forestales, y modifica sus operaciones en la zona a fin de reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales durante la temporada de los mismos.
Estas zonas están sujetas a una inspección estricta y un control de la vegetación, así como al uso de equipos y aplicación de prácticas de operación especiales para reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales.
Idaho Power está actualizando las zonas PSPS para la temporada de incendios forestales de 2024. Se mostrarán en el mapa que se presenta abajo cuando estén disponibles.
= Zona activa
= Zona inactiva
= Service area
¿Cuándo se utiliza un PSPS?
Los cortes PSPS solo se utilizan en condiciones climáticas extremas, sobre todo vientos fuertes y vegetación seca, que son causa de un alto riesgo de incendio. Son muchos los factores que intervienen en la decisión de realizar cortes PSPS. Los siguientes son los principales factores que, junto con el uso de pronósticos del tiempo y observaciones en tiempo real, se consideran para determinar la necesidad de cortes PSPS:
¿Cómo notificamos a los clientes?
El compromiso de Idaho Power es notificar con la suficiente anticipación posible para permitir que sus clientes se preparen para un corte PSPS.
Debido a la extensa área de servicio de Idaho Power, a la diversidad geográfica y medioambiental, y al clima impredecible de la región, puede ser difícil pronosticar con mucha anticipación la necesidad de un corte PSPS. Sin embargo, los mantendremos lo más informados posible durante un corte ya sea a través de mensajes de texto, llamadas telefónicas o por correo electrónico. También podrá buscar las actualizaciones en nuestro sitio web.
Asegúrese de actualizar su información de contacto para que podamos localizarlo en caso de emergencia.
Preguntas frecuentes
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