Temporary Power Shutoffs Possible with Wildfire Conditions
Puget Sound Energy’s Wildfire Mitigation and Response Program is designed to help our region stay safe during wildfire events. During wildfire season, which can run from now into October, certain conditions—such as high winds, extra dry vegetation, and low humidity—can increase the risk of fire from power lines.
When that combination of dangerous conditions exists, PSE may temporarily shut off power lines in some areas to help prevent wildfires from starting. PSE calls these Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) “a measure of last resort to keep you and your community safe.”
When the weather forecast predicts such conditions, PSE hopes to notify customers two days before a PSPS outage starts.
Once the high-risk weather conditions have subsided, crews will visually inspect the power lines to check for any damage or safety concerns before restoring power. PSE will add and update estimated times for restoration (ETRs) on their Outage Map.
Medical Life Support Concerns
What if you rely on power for in-home medical life support such as dialysis equipment, ventilators, infant apnea monitors, feeding or infusion pumps, suction machines, oxygen concentrators, or ventricular assist devices?
If your PSE account notes medical life support status, PSE will try to notify you even earlier via phone call about potential PSPS. However, because it is not always possible to predict such events, PSE “strongly encourage[s] customers with medical needs to create an emergency plan and consider investing in a backup power source to be prepared for outages and emergencies.”
If you use life-support equipment at home but have not yet notified PSE, call them at 1-888-225-5773.
PSE and BP
We have added a special page to our website about PSE and its Wildfire Mitigation and Response Program: Visit it here.
