May 12, 2022 3:00 a.m.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission recently approved permanent rules for investor-owned utilities, regarding public safety power shutoffs.

A PUC release said that includes PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric and Idaho Power.

Temporary rules were implemented for the 2021 wildfire season while the PUC, utilities, public safety partners, and communities worked to finalize permanent rules. The release said this is a timely decision as May is Wildfire Awareness Month and wildfire season quickly approaches.

Oregon PUC said a PSPS is an important safety measure designed to help protect people and communities in high fire-risk areas by proactively shutting off the electricity during extreme and dangerous weather conditions. De-energizing power lines through a PSPS is a wildfire risk mitigation strategy of last resort because of the significant impacts the loss of power can have on communities and the extensive planning and communication that are needed to effectively implement them. The release said the new rules lay out specific communication requirements for the utilities to inform public safety partners, state agencies, local jurisdictions and the public of the need to implement a PSPS to mitigate wildfire risk, as well as updates at least every 24 hours until service is restored.

The PUC is reminding Oregonians to get ready for the 2022 wildfire season and potential power outages. The utilities have identified high risk zones, but under extreme conditions PSPS could be utilized more widely.

View the order detailing the rules at: https://apps.puc.state.or.us/orders/2022ords/22-159.pdf