Public Safety Power Shutoff

During a Public Safety Power Shutoff, NorthWestern Energy will shut off power to certain lines in areas where wildfire risk is unacceptably high due to extreme weather conditions. This is done proactively before a wildfire starts burning.

This is different than a rolling blackout, when power is shutoff to stabilize the grid during periods of peak demand.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff is also different from fire-related outages where NorthWestern Energy shuts off certain power lines when a fire is burning toward them. 

• Make a plan for medical needs such as refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment. This could mean finding a place you can go during an outage or using a backup generator.
• For medical emergencies, call 911.

Be sure NorthWestern Energy has your current phone number and email address. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

Make a plan:

• Prepare for medical needs, such as refrigerated medicine or electrically powered medical equipment.
• Build a summer outage kit that includes bottled water, non-perishable food, baby food or formula and diapers, pet food, medications and other necessities. Keep a block of ice in the freezer.
• Plan for a way to feed and water pets or livestock in case well pumps don’t have power.

Stay safe if the power goes out:

• Turn off all but one light, so you will notice when we have restored your electricity.
• Unplug computers, chargers, TVs, VCRs and other sensitive appliances to avoid possible damage when electricity is restored.
• When power resumes, reset clocks and check automatic alarms and timers. Plug in only essential items. Wait 10 minutes before connecting the remainder of your items to let the electrical system stabilize.
• Do not open freezers or refrigerators more than necessary. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
• If you see a downed or damaged power line, keep your distance and call 911 immediately. Assume all power lines are energized. Never touch a power line or any object, including trees, that is in contact with a line.

Learn more about Public Safety Power Shutoffs

If you will be impacted by a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff, NorthWestern Energy will notify you directly multiple times throughout the process. You will receive an automated phone call and email from us before power is turned off and after it is restored.

However, we can only contact you if we have your correct contact information. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

NorthWestern Energy will also post information on our website and social media accounts about Public Safety Power Shutoffs. For the most up-to-date information during an event, visit NorthWesternEnergy.com.

 

Public Safety Power Shutoffs can vary in length. We will not restore power until weather conditions have improved to the point where we can safely operate the electrical grid. After the extreme weather conditions have passed, we will patrol electrical lines to make sure no branches, trees or other items have fallen into the lines. Once any damage has been repaired, NorthWestern Energy will restore power. A Public Safety Power Shutoff, plus the time to patrol and make repairs, could last several hours or even days. If storm damage occurs, restoration could take longer.

Learn more

At least 48 hours before most Public Safety Power Shutoffs, NorthWestern Energy will notify customers who may be impacted. We will continue to update our customers as we monitor the situation and determine whether a power shutoff is necessary. Before power is turned off, all impacted customers will be contacted via phone and email (if we have your email address on file). Power will remain off until weather conditions have improved to the point where we can safely operate the electrical grid.

Customers will also be notified when their power has been restored.

Be sure NorthWestern Energy has your current phone number and email address. Update your contact information by logging in to My Energy Account or by calling us at 888-467-2669.

All customers should be prepared for outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are most likely to occur where homes and other structures are built in wildfire-prone areas. This can include forested areas on the outskirts of larger towns or cities, or rural forested areas. However, a Public Safety Power Shutoff could also be needed near prairies, grasslands and farms. The least likely place to have a Public Safety Power Shutoff is in a populated, urban area.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs are used only during extreme weather conditions when there is a high risk of an electrical line igniting a wildfire. The primary factors we look at to determine when a Public Safety Power Shutoff is necessary are high temperatures, low humidity, dry vegetation and high wind.

We may turn off power when extreme weather conditions are expected but before they hit an area.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs are most likely to occur during fire season – the hot dry months in the summertime. However, it is possible to have a Public Safety Power Shutoff anytime of the year when it’s hot, dry and windy.

A public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, is when NorthWestern Energy, or another energy company, proactively turns off power to an area where wildfire risk is unacceptably high due to extreme weather conditions. Public Safety Power Shutoffs help us prevent wildfires and keep our communities safe.