Rocky Mountain Power announced in a July 1 update that the utility utilizes enhanced safety settings and emergency de-energization protocols to mitigate wildfire risks, even though these measures may result in more frequent or longer-than-typical power outages for customers.
The utility company noted that enhanced safety settings are specifically implemented to prevent the start of wildfires. However, these preventative measures carry a trade-off for local residents, as there is an increased potential for service interruptions when these settings are active.
According to Rocky Mountain Power, customers may experience outages that last longer than typical durations because field crews must perform manual patrols of the power lines before electricity can be safely restored to the area.
In addition to enhanced safety settings, Rocky Mountain Power employs emergency de-energization during periods of active wildfire activity. The utility stated that as the risk of wildfire increases, customers should expect more frequent outages resulting from these emergency shutoffs.
To manage these disruptions, the company maintains an outage map and list that provides generalized locations to protect customer privacy. Information regarding current outages is typically refreshed every 15 minutes to keep the public informed of service status.
For residents with electricity-dependent medical needs, Rocky Mountain Power provides specific accessibility programs. The company encourages these individuals to visit their accessibility programs webpage for detailed information on available support.
Customers with critical medical situations can also contact the utility directly by calling 1-888-221-7070 or by using the company's online contact form to ensure their specific needs are documented.
The utility maintains strict safety warnings regarding damaged infrastructure, reminding the public to never touch or approach downed power lines. Residents can report downed wires by calling 1-877-508-5088.
Other methods for reporting outages include texting the word OUT to 759677 or using the reporting tools available on the company's official outage website. The company also provides a specific reporting feature for residents who identify broken streetlights.
