Wildfire program

November Wind Storm

Progress continues

Throughout the day crews made steady progress restoring power to customers impacted by Tuesday’s windstorm. 18 transmission lines, 42 distribution circuits and 15 substations were put back on-line today. These important pieces of infrastructure bring back on sometimes thousands of customers at once.    Today we’ve seen the most progress with restoration of power to our schools, critical infrastructure and medical facilities. However, we understand that for those still affected it remains incredibly challenging, especially with the cold conditions. For customers needing support, please check with your local government or call 211 to find warming shelters and other resources. King 5 also has this list of resources.

A message to our customers was sent through several channels this afternoon. Please see the letter here.

The high winds and resulting tree damage not only downed the smaller, local power lines, but also damaged transmission lines – the larger lines that bring power into communities. Crews are steadily bringing transmission lines back online; this is an important step before crews can focus on the local distribution system. Please note that there will be temporary spikes in outage numbers as those systems are energized so you may see numbers go up and down on the PSE outage map as the process occurs. In some cases, customers may receive a notification that their power is restored when substations are energized – if you are still without power, please report your outage through the myPSE app or our outage map.

Work will continue around the clock until every customer has power restored. We have the equipment and materials that are needed for the type of outages that can be caused by high winds. As crews finish work in one area, they are assigned to repair damage in another.

How PSE prepares

Our Wildfire Program’s year-round measures cover a wide range of wildfire prevention and preparation – from proactive tree trimming near power lines to developing emergency response and recovery plans in case we need them. Our comprehensive plan includes:

Situational awareness Using our risk modeling and real-time data to monitor and evaluate the electric system and environment around it. This includes conditions that increase wildfire risk, like strong winds, very dry vegetation, and low humidity
Grid hardening investments Regular updates to the electric system, targeted maintenance, and improvement activities that will further reduce the risk of wildfire
Operations procedures Prevention measures and response activities for the operation of our electric system during periods of elevated wildfire risk
Communication and outreach Embedding equity into the planning and implementation of our wildfire mitigation strategies
Equity Keeping customers and impacted communities engaged in our program and providing timely communications during an emergency

Our year-round prevention and preparation efforts include:

	Vegetation management Trees and other vegetation that grow too close to power lines can touch the lines or other equipment, causing power outages and potentially creating sparks. PSE’s Vegetation Management program regularly inspects power lines throughout our service area and trims or removes hazardous trees and other vegetation.
	System hardening projects Hardening projects replace and upgrade equipment to improve the safety and reliability of the electric system. This may include: Replacing and upgrading poles, wires, and other equipment Installing “tree wire” (specially-coated, overhead wire) in areas of high wildfire risk. Installing electrical devices and other equipment that provide for greater operational flexibility
	Strategic undergrounding As part of our ongoing strategy to reduce wildfire risk, PSE may move some power lines underground. This is called strategic undergrounding, and it will improve resiliency and reduce the impacts of PSPS in areas with the highest risk and need.
	Proactive or reactive power outages and power line settings During wildfire season, PSE takes proactive steps to ensure safety while balancing reliability. These prevention measures and response activities can result in power outages. Here’s a chart that compares the different types of outages. Enhanced power line settings (EPS) Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

How you can prepare for wildfire season

Your household
Create and practice an emergency plan and build an emergency kit.

Make sure your PSE account contact information is up to date at pse.com or by calling 1-888-225- 5773 so we can notify you in advance of a PSPS.

If you have medical equipment in your home that relies on electricity, call PSE’s Customer Care team at 1-888-225-5773 and they can walk you through the process to add Life Support status to your account. Completing the actions above for Life Support status is not a guarantee of service and does not give priority in restoration efforts. PSE strongly suggests that customers have an appropriate emergency plan in place for Life Support.

Take steps to prepare for a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

Visit our Resources page to learn more about local organizations and programs to help you prepare for wildfire season, emergencies, and power outages.
Your home
Create defensible space: Clear brush or other flammable items from around your home.

Maintain trees on your property: When trees are improperly trimmed, they can become a hazard. Please contact PSE prior to pruning or removing trees near overhead lines. We’ll send out a PSE- certified arborist to evaluate the utility lines at no cost to you.

Plant the right tree: When landscaping, select fire-resistant plants and locate trees a safe distance from power lines and other equipment.
Your community
Community wildfire resilience: Explore resources from the Washington Department of Natural Resources to reduce the risk of wildfire in your neighborhood and community.

Report danger trees: If you notice a tree that is dangerously close to overhead power lines, or a tree that appears to be in poor health, please call your local arborist or fill out our contact form and we'll send out a PSE-certified arborist to investigate at no cost to you.

Remember, if you come across a downed utility wire of any kind, always assume it’s energized and stay as far away as you can. Call 911 or call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 to report the downed line.

PSE wildfire plans

Resources

PSE Wildfire Preparedness fact sheet
PSE Vegetation Management fact sheet
PSPS fact sheet
Medical Life Support fact sheet
PSE alerts and advisories
How to prepare for a power outage
Department of Natural Resources: Wildfire Ready Neighbors
Challenge Seattle report: “Are Mega-Wildfires our New Normal?"

During high-risk wildfire weather conditions, PSE may temporarily shut off power lines to help prevent wildfires from starting. This tool of last resort is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

Learn more