A power outage has left thousands of residents in Washington County without electricity, following a history of grid instability in the region, including a major blackout on March 15, 2024, caused by a PacifiCorp regional transformer issue.
Energy Conservation Requests
The City of St. George has issued a Red Alert to residents as the local grid continues to manage electrical demands. Officials have requested that community members conserve energy to assist in stabilizing the system, specifically during peak usage windows.
Peak Demand Management
To mitigate the strain on the grid, the City of St. George has advised residents to limit power use between 3 PM and 7 PM. This period has been identified as the highest-risk window for the utility because solar generation decreases while evening household demand typically spikes.
Residents are also encouraged to delay the use of heavy appliances, such as laundry machines and dishwashers, until after 7 PM. Additionally, officials suggested that residents adjust their thermostats a few degrees higher to further reduce the load on the electrical system.
Grid Stability Efforts
The City of St. George Energy Services Department remains on alert, with emergency diesel generators ready for deployment if the grid approaches critical limits. The city has noted that collective efforts to reduce usage make a massive difference in maintaining system stability.
In a previous instance of widespread failure on March 15, 2024, the St. George Energy Services team had to route a smaller backup feed to restore power in gradual steps to avoid overloading the grid. During that event, the city prioritized critical services and utilized a local backup plant to stabilize the system.
Service Provider Information
Dixie Power, an electric cooperative serving approximately 25,000 members across Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, provides services to the area south of the Virgin River. This service area was established when the region was annexed during the 1980s.
Dixie Power maintains an outage map that is updated every five minutes to provide real-time information to its members. Customers can report outages by calling 1-866-673-3297, logging into their online accounts, using the Dixie Power app for Apple or Android devices, or by texting "OUT" to 844-922-2429.
Medical and Safety Guidance
The City of St. George Power Company serves the territory roughly located north of the Virgin River. For residents with medical conditions that require oxygen or other specialized equipment, officials caution that it is not possible to restore power to a single home or business until the entire affected area is restored. It is recommended that those with medical needs make advance arrangements for power contingencies.
Reporting Outages and Issues
For emergency situations involving downed power lines or other electrical emergencies, the City of St. George Dispatch center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Residents can reach the dispatch center at 435-627-4835. If callers encounter a recording, they are advised to leave a message containing their name, phone number with area code, and the address of the emergency.
For non-emergency issues such as streetlights, residents can contact 435-627-4826 or submit an online form. If a streetlight is located within the Dixie Power service area, residents are instructed to contact Dixie Power directly.
Contractor and Permanent Power Information
Contractors and residents seeking information on permanent power installation can contact the Building Department at 435-627-4800 to schedule appointments for service and meter installation. For temporary power needs, the Building Department can be reached at 435-627-4100.
