Update on July 24, 2024 at 3:30 pm
MONTANA – NorthWestern Energy (NWE) has announced that they are not currently considering a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff. The update was posted on their Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) webpage on Wednesday, July 24.
In their statement, NWE clarified the purpose of a PSPS, as their previous announcement garnered significant public attention.
“Based on assessment of the forecasted conditions, we are confident that a PSPS is not imminent at this time. We will continue to monitor, analyze, and assess wildfire conditions throughout the fire season. Any updates that could impact our customers will be provided on our website. Stay tuned for further information,” said NorthWestern Energy.
NWE reiterated that their initial announcement indicated they were only monitoring the potential need for a PSPS and had not officially planned for one. They emphasized that a PSPS is a last resort measure used when all other defenses are inadequate. These events are unlikely to affect most cities and towns in Montana but may impact customers in rural areas.
NWE also stated that they would inform customers directly in advance of any planned outages. Customers can ensure they receive notifications by ensuring their contact information with NWE is accurate and up to date.
Furthermore, NWE announced the installation of their first smoke detection field camera outside of Helena.
This new camera technology will aid fire fighters and first responders by enhancing early wildfire detection and notifying local firefighting agencies of any detected fires.
This week’s announcement also marked the first formal notification NWE has given to their customers about the possibility of a PSPS. Customer responses have helped NWE improve the process and enhance public safety.
For more information on Public Safety Power Shutoffs, visit their website at northwesternenergy.com/psps.
Original coverage on July 23, 2024 at 2:57 pm
MONTANA – NorthWestern Energy (NWE) announced on Tuesday that they are currently monitoring the potential need for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) due to high wildfire risk.
According to the NWE website, a PSPS is called for when extreme weather conditions like high winds, high temperatures, low humidity, and little precipitation increase the chances of power lines sparking a wildfire.
NWE states that if a PSPS were necessary at this time, it would most likely affect wildfire-prone areas outside of Butte, Helena, Great Falls, or Bozeman.
NWE mentions that they will keep updating the Public Safety Power Shutoff map on their website as they monitor the forecasted windy weather.
There are multiple official stages when NWE decides to call for a PSPS, as laid out in the timeline below. “Monitoring” is the first stage of the process, indicating there are currently no planned power outages, and there is at least 72 hours before an actual shutoff may occur.
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