With wildfire season now underway, California public power utility Truckee Donner Public Utility District is urging customers to prepare for the possibility of prolonged power outages.
Both TDPUD and NV Energy -- TDPUD’s primary transmission supplier -- implement seasonal measures to mitigate wildfire risk.
However, these safety programs can result in power outages lasting from a few hours to several days, TDPUD noted.
“TDPUD is committed to alert the community to potential wildfire safety outages, but it’s important to know that some may occur without much notice,” it said on June 25.
“Wildfire safety power outages have become a utility industry standard and are the new normal for our region,” said Steven Poncelet, TDPUD public information and strategic affairs director. “While they are sometimes viewed as inconvenient, the alternative is exposing our community to greater wildfire risk, which our community does not want. Truckee residents and visitors need to understand what these programs are, how they are utilized, and how they can best prepare for extended power outages.”
TDPUD’s Preemptive Power Shutoff Program
New this year, TDPUD has launched its own wildfire safety power shutoff program, called Preemptive Power Shutoff.
While TDPUD has previously been affected by NV Energy’s wildfire safety measures, it has now implemented a localized program tailored to its service area.
"This approach aligns with a broader trend among electric utilities across California and the western U.S., which are adopting de-energization strategies to reduce wildfire risk and mitigate potential impacts on high-risk communities," the public power utility noted.
TDPUD’s Preemptive Power Shutoff policy is designed to first identify the conditions that could lead to electric equipment causing a catastrophic wildfire, identify areas of the electric systems with the highest risk and minimize the areas impacted by a wildfire safety power outage.
If an outage is deemed necessary, TDPUD would implement a PPS power outage during extreme weather conditions to keep the community safe, and would restore power as quickly and safely as possible once the danger has subsided.
TDPUD plans to alert the public of an impending PPS event with 48-24 hour and 12-4 hour notices ahead of the event.
In a Public Safety Outage Management event, NV Energy will de-energize transmission lines that deliver power to the entire Truckee-North Tahoe region during extreme weather conditions and elevated fire risk levels. As in prior years, TDPUD plans to alert the public with a 48-24 hour notice, followed by a 12-4 hour notice.
During an emergency de-energization event, NV Energy may shut off power when an active wildfire approaches its equipment. This action helps protect first responders and reduces the risk of additional ignitions that could worsen fire conditions. Depending on the fire’s location and rate of spread, advance notice may be limited.
TDPUD said it will make every effort to inform the public as quickly as possible; however, in some cases, an outage may occur before notification can be issued.
These outages will likely impact TDPUD’s entire customer base for periods ranging from a few hours to a few days, the public power utility noted.
The timing and duration of the outages will be based on NV Energy’s determination of the length of the extreme wildfire danger period, plus the time required for both NV Energy and TDPUD to visually inspect 100 percent of the electric system to safely restore power.
Details on NV Energy’s programs can be found at nvenergy.com/safety/wildfire, and information on its impacts on TDPUD customers can be found at tdpud.org/wildfire.
TDPUD Partners with TDRPD to Deploy Outage Center
TDPUD has partnered with Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District to deploy an outage center at the Community Arts Center during an extended wildfire safety power outage, offering device charging and information updates from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
"Public utilities are not required to provide services to the community during wildfire outages, however, TDPUD wants to help the community as much as we can when these extended outages occur," it said.
TDPUD noted its ability to communicate with customers and visitors during outages is key to making sure the community is well-prepared for these events and offered related tips.
“It’s critical that we can communicate quickly with our customers and the broader community during a wildfire safety outage,” said Poncelet. “Taking a few minutes now to update your contact information and stay informed can make a meaningful difference when it matters most.”
TDPUD noted that it takes several actions to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by electric equipment, including updating operation protocols, maintaining a robust, year-round vegetation management program, and installing new equipment.
