Public Safety Power Shutoff

by Brent Bischoff, CEO/GM Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative

The start of fire season triggers mitigation measures spelled out in Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

The WMP has two primary objectives: Minimize the impact on the electric system if a wildfire approaches or crosses the power lines and minimize the possibility that the electric system or crews working on it are an ignition source that could lead to a wildfire.

Some wildfire mitigation measures are part of CCEC’s yeararound work practices, including power line right-of-way clearing.

CCEC directs its contract vegetation management crews to clear the ROW of vegetation from ground to sky. Past electric utility practice has been to trim vegetation only enough to prevent it from growing into and contacting the power lines. Today, CCEC’s ROW clearing practice not only prevents vegetation from growing into and contacting energized power lines, but it also minimizes fuel loading in the ROW, accomplishing both objectives of the WMP.

One wildfire mitigation tool CCEC has not employed before, called a Public Safety Power Shutoff or PSPS, is becoming more common among electric utilities. The PSPS was developed in the wake of devastating wildfires over the past several years where energized power lines were shown or believed to have caused fires. PSPS is a tool of last resort and is employed only in targeted areas where specific weather conditions are forecast or exist.

The prerequisite weather conditions for PSPS are high temperatures, extremely low humidity and high winds. The PSPS deenergizes power lines in the area with these weather conditions so there is no possibility for the power system to ignite a fire. The unavoidable side effect of PSPS is that power is off, leaving an affected area without critical services.

CCEC is finalizing its PSPS Plan in readiness to deploy it in the 2024 fire season.

Only CCEC members living in areas where these red flag weather conditions can occur are subject to a PSPS. In the coming weeks, the CCEC member services team will communicate to members in these potentially affected areas. Also, CCEC will communicate to affected members through multiple channels when a PSPS is deployed.

More information on PSPS can be found at ccec.coop/psps.

Like the tire jack in your vehicle, PSPS is a tool you carry with you while hoping you never have to use it