Credit: Rocky Mountain Power
UPDATE — Rocky Mountain Power says they will continue to patrol the lines and should know on Wednesday if a localized power shutoff will be needed as part of their precautions.
“Right now we just want everyone to update their information on their (Rocky Mountain Power) accounts so that we can communicate with those customers,” RMP Spokesman Spencer Hall told Utah’s Morning News.
He says they will be looking at indicators such as how dry both the soil and the potential fuel for fires are around their lines as part of their decision.
“We just want everyone to be very careful, we have our own meteorology teams watching conditions and we just want to make sure everyone stays safe and everyone’s protected.”
Hall said that if power is shut down during it would affect approximately 1,800 customers in both Sundance and Summit Park.
You can hear the full conversation on Utah’s Morning News below.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah– Wildfires and weather conditions are prompting Rocky Mountian Power (RMP) to consider power shutoffs in parts of Northern Utah.
The power company said on Tuesday it may issue a Public Safety Power Shutoff this week to control the spread of high-risk wildfires in the Sundance and Summit Park communities.
While RMP is monitoring the weather forecast, low humidity, dry vegetation and high winds may force them to temporarily shut off services.
“As a safety precaution, electricity could be turned off in wildfire high-risk areas during extreme weather events for public safety in an effort to prevent catastrophic wildfire,” said RMP. “The measure would only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety.”
RPM says they hope to effect as little customers as possible.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a wildfire mitigation tactic in Utah. By restricting electricity in high-risk fire areas, it helps prevent power line sparks from occurring due to wind or falling debris.
Customers will be given advanced notice if their power is to be shut off. RMP advises customers in affected areas to update their contact information for the latest updates.
For all non-emergency questions about the Public Safety Power Shutoff watch, call Rocky Mountain Power at 1-888-221-7070.