Electricity in southern Utah may shut off due to high winds

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah – Rocky Mountain Power, RMP, may have to shut off the electricity in certain parts of southern Utah this weekend. They’re warning customers about possible shutoffs because the strong winds are making the already extreme fire conditions even worse.

We are closely monitoring forecasted weather conditions in areas around Iron & Washington counties, including Cedar City, Enterprise, Dixie and Milford. RMP has issued a Public Safety Power Shutoff watch for these areas which is in effect for the next 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/FumjBSillz

— Rocky Mountain Power UT (@RMP_Utah) May 20, 2021

 

So far, there is no official plan to shut off the electricity in southern Utah. However, Rocky Mountain Power Spokesman David Eskelsen said they have extra equipment on standby and crews will be patrolling the power lines to spot any signs of damage.

Eskelsen reported turning off the electricity isn’t something that they really want to do. “A power safety shutoff is a last resort,” he said.

Eskelsen continued and said their focus is mostly on Washington and Iron counties, but it could expand past those boundaries. They have their own meteorologists keeping an eye on weather patterns and wind speeds, and they know where their vulnerable equipment is.

“We have a pretty good idea of where the high-risk areas are. We’re prepared to notify customers prior to taking a shutoff action,” according to Eskelsen.

Years of drought have made fire conditions as bad as officials can remember. Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokesman Jason Curry said if anything ignites the grasses, the fire will likely grow out of control by the time fire crews arrive.

“With any kind of wind, it’s going to push that fire far beyond the control of just those local one or two engines,” Curry says.

Plus, fighting wildfires will be harder to fight for the next few weeks.  Curry says the state has fewer fire-fighting aircraft at their disposal in May than they have in June.  This comes from contracts with the federal government that aren’t effective until June 1.

Curry says, “We have some aviation resources available to us on those federal contracts, but they are in shorter supply than we will have in another 30 days, or so.”