LOCAL NEWS

Power shutoff watch issued for portion of Iron County

Jun 17, 2022, 6:53 PM | Updated: 8:59 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Rocky Mountain Power on Friday issued a public safety power shutoff watch for a portion of Iron County due to high winds and dangerous wildfire conditions.

“As a safety precaution, electricity could be turned off in wildfire high risk areas during extreme weather events for public safety in an effort to prevent a fast-moving, hard to fight wildfire,” the utility said on its website. “The measure would only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety. “

The shutoff watch is for an area on the south end of Cedar City and remains in effect through Saturday. A team of meteorologists is monitoring wind gusts and will determine if an outage is necessary.

“What we want to do is make sure that our system is not the cause of igniting a wildfire, and so we bring in meteorologist on staff and we’re constantly monitoring, 24/7 around the clock conditions that are on the ground,” said RMP spokesperson Tiffany Erickson.

Erickson said the utility has never done a proactive power outage before, but that they came very close on Friday afternoon.

“Weather is one of the biggest factors impacting our system when it comes to outages, and especially wind,” she said. “So when you see gusting, that’s when you see lines hitting together, trees in lines, sometimes lines down.”

Some of the power grid in Utah has been switched over to wildfire settings, Erickson said. The setting makes it so that when something comes into contact with a power line, like a branch or debris blowing through the air, the power will shut off in a tenth of a second.

“We are taking additional safety precautions by directing additional personnel and resources to monitor the weather impact on our system,” the watch notification said.

Rocky Mountain Power is alerting customers of the potential proactive power outages and urging them to be prepared.

Erickson said customers should be aware that the any outages this weekend could last longer than normal because the lines have to be inspected before being reenergized.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Hope Hero Foundation Logo on key chain...

Karah Brackin

Utah’s Hope Hero Foundation is saving teen lives

Discover how The Hope Hero Foundation empowers teens and prevents suicide. Be the hero of your own story!

30 minutes ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

Car fleeing from ‘robbery attempt’ rolls and bursts into flames on I-15

A car rolled and burst into flames on the ramp from 201 to Interstate 15  after fleeing from an attempted robbery, police said.

30 minutes ago

Caroline Gleich wants to change what a senator should look like...

Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

Caroline Gleich wants to change what people think a senator should ‘look’ like

"I don't look like a U.S. senator." It's a message professional ski mountaineer and Democratic Senate candidate Caroline Gleich has heard often enough as she began her first televised ad of the 2024 cycle by addressing it.

2 hours ago

Loren Richardson shoots video of him snowboarding when a Brighton man confronted him on Feb. 26. Th...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Brighton resident charged with threatening, pointing shotgun at snowboarder

A Brighton man was charged Thursday with aggravated assault and accused of pointing a shotgun at a backcountry skier who went on his property on Feb. 26.

4 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

Breeze Airways announces new flights out of Provo to Dallas Fort Worth

Getting to the Lone Star State just got easier. Breeze Airways announced a new flights to Dallas Fort Worth from Provo.

4 hours ago

(KSL TV)...

Andrew Adams

Data shows significant uptick in gas prices over past month in Salt Lake area

Gas prices rose considerably over the past month in the Salt Lake area, according to data from industry watchers.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Power shutoff watch issued for portion of Iron County