Oregon Fire Season Approaching, State Adopts Power Shut-Off Rules

SALEM, OR — The Oregon Public Utilities Commission made permanent its interim rules governing how public utilities communicate with the public and government agencies when they have to shut off power to an area to mitigate wildfire risk, the agency announced Wednesday.

The commission said that the decision was "timely as May is National Wildfire Awareness Month and wildfire season quickly approaches."

The commission expected utilities to give customers 24 to 48 hours notice before shutting off power to an area and to provide 24-hour updates if an outage will last more than a day, according to the rules.

PUC Commissioner Letha Tawney called a power shut-off "a last resort" and added that the commission's action was "a complex decision that impacts communities, including use of home medical devices, access to 911 services and the ability to pump water. However, it's a tool in the utility's tool kit to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, if they determine it necessary."

In 2020, nearly 1 million acres burned throughout the state, according to the PUC.

The agency doesn't spell out when a utility should turn off power to an area, choosing to leave that decision to the utilities because the companies know the threats to their systems and are better positioned to make those decisions, the commission said.

The PUC recommended that people treat wildfire preparation in the same way they would prepare for any other natural disaster, such as an earthquake.

The PUC recommended people take the following steps to prepare.

• Register to receive alerts from official sources such as local governments, but also the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.
• Make a household emergency plan and make sure that everyone in your home is aware of the plan.
• Create a circle of safety around your home, which is free of plants and other things that could burn.
• Keep cell phones charged.
• If you have a medical condition that requires power — medications that must be kept cold, machines needed for things such as assisted breathing or home dialysis — register with your utility for a medical certification that makes the utility aware of your needs and helps ensure that it gives your home priority service.
• Consider a backup generator.
• Make sure that you have two weeks' worth of supplies, such as medication, food, water and pet supplies.