What is PSPS – Public Safety Power Shutoff?
With news media across various western states highlighting possible “PSPS events”, it’s helpful to understand how wildfire risk has increased as we enter the fall and what PSPS means for electric utilities as they look to keep communities safe. PSPS stands for Public Safety Power Shut Off. As wildfires become a growing threat due to extreme weather, electric utilities must take serious measures to prevent asset-caused ignitions. One of the ways they do this is with a PSPS program. But how does it work?
Proactively Turning Off the Power
During high-risk weather – think of strong winds or dry conditions – damaged or downed power lines or electrical equipment can spark a fire. By preemptively turning off the power before disaster strikes, utilities can maintain control and reduce the risk of sparks turning into wildfires. An electric utility may employ a PSPS program, which reflects a series of data-driven decisions that lead to possibly shutting off power to prevent a forced outage or an issue that could potentially lead to an ignition. By turning off the power ahead of time, they’re getting ahead of what they see as a potential outage risk. This affords control over how the power goes out and lowers the risk of ignition. If they don’t and Mother Nature takes control, there’s a chance a spark can impact communities.
Even though PSPS is a compelling tool, it’s not an option electric utilities make lightly. It is typically employed as a last resort, only coming into play after they’ve exhausted all alternatives. But when the risk of a wildfire is too high and other steps aren’t enough, PSPS becomes the best option to protect communities. It is becoming a standard safety measure across the industry, even if electric utilities don’t need or plan to use them often.
A Big Change for Power Companies
While PSPS might sound like a good solution, it’s not something electric utilities enjoy doing. A utility provider’s greatest goal is to provide reliable and uninterrupted power to its customers. Shutting the power off goes against everything they stand for. It’s not an easy decision, and there’s much to consider before making the call.
Imagine a software company in charge of providing data to customers suddenly having to decide to cut service for 48 hours to prevent harm. That’s similar to what electric utilities face with PSPS. It’s an adjustment for electric utilities because shutting off power goes against what is ingrained in any utility employee’s mind. However, when choosing between that or risking a wildfire, they have to do what’s necessary to keep people safe. Communities must also deal with periods of no power disrupting day-to-day life. This is why electric utilities need to adopt solutions that empower them to ensure PSPS events are rare, surgical when used, and span the shortest duration when activated.
Gaining the Advantage on Wildfire Decision-Making
In the end, PSPS is about balancing risk. While it’s not an easy decision for electric utilities, it can be a lifesaver in high-risk situations. As wildfires become more prevalent due to extreme weather, PSPS programs will become essential in protecting communities. Electric utilities can employ solutions to monitor and forecast emerging weather and wildfire risks in scenarios days in advance. Imagine being able to assess high ignition potential and possible consequence over a 5-day horizon, every day, to support the identification of candidate circuits for PSPS consideration. See how leading electric utilities employ various tools like weather forecasts, ignition models, on-demand wildfire spread predictions, and impact analysis to forecast & monitor wildfire risks days in advance.
