.png)
PUD customers urged to prepare for possible extended outages
NEWPORT — Customers in central and southern Pend Oreille County should be prepared for the possibility of longer power outages on Wednesday, July 8, as Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend Oreille County activates Elevated Fire-Safe Mode in response to a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service is forecasting hot temperatures, gusty southwest winds, low humidity and extremely dry conditions that significantly increase the risk of fast-moving wildfires.
Elevated Fire-Safe Mode will be activated at 11 a.m. in areas from Blueslide south through the Pend Oreille River Valley and the southern portion of Pend Oreille County.
Elevated Fire-Safe Mode is one of several tools the PUD uses during Red Flag Warnings to help reduce the risk of electrical equipment contributing to a wildfire. During Elevated Fire-Safe Mode, the electric system operates at its highest sensitivity setting, which means automatic restoration of power is disabled if an issue occurs on the system.
Instead, crews must conduct in-person line inspections and confirm conditions are safe before restoring service. This added layer of protection may result in longer outage durations.
This is not a Public Safety Power Shutoff. Pend Oreille PUD is not proactively turning off power. Customers will only lose power if an outage occurs due to an issue such as winds, trees, equipment problems, wildlife or other causes.
Customers are encouraged to: Have a backup plan if they rely on electricity for medical equipment, well pumps or other essential needs.
Use generators safely with a properly installed transfer switch to prevent backfeed onto power lines, which can endanger crews and the public.
Stay informed by visiting www.popud. org or following Pend Oreille PUD on Facebook.
Elevated Fire-Safe Mode will remain in effect until weather conditions improve. The PUD will continue monitoring conditions and provide updates as needed.
This is not a Public
Safety Power Shutoff.
Pend Oreille PUD is not proactively turning off power.
