Wildfire Mitigation

Amid forecasts of hot and dry conditions heightening the risk of wildfires this summer, Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC) continues to take proactive steps to mitigate fire risk. Over the past few summers, we have communicated with members during times of elevated fire danger when the cooperative modifies the electrical system to turn off automatic re-energization when a fault occurs. While those efforts will continue, you have likely also heard about Avista Utilities’ Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) plan, designed to minimize wildfire risks by strategically cutting power during extreme weather conditions as an option of last resort. Learn more about Avista Utilities’ Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) plan. 

As KEC remains vigilant, we urge members to stay informed about these measures and prepare for possible power disruptions, regardless of the cause. If you cannot be without power, it’s important that you plan now for how you will obtain power backup. If possible, have a backup battery, generator, solar or alternate electrical resources.

About KEC’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan

During dry weather and high winds, there is a risk that wildfires will cause damage to power lines resulting in the disruption of power. Furthermore, trees, branches, and debris can come in contact with energized power lines and other electrical equipment. This too could ignite a wildfire. KEC continues to implement its wildfire mitigation plan which outlines a methodical approach to protecting its electrical system from wildfires and preventing its infrastructure from starting one. As part of this plan, KEC monitors current fire conditions and weather reports, such as “red flag warnings” issued by the National Weather Service. During times when fire danger is high, the cooperative modifies the electrical system to turn off automatic re-energization when a “fault” occurs. When turned off, all faults, which can be caused by lightning, heavy winds, trees or branches falling on lines, vehicles colliding with poles, wildlife and more, will result in an outage.  When this occurs, KEC crews must fully patrol the line prior to restoring power. 

Other weather conditions require more proactive measures of fire mitigation. For instance, during red-flag conditions, KEC strategically and preemptively deploys line crews throughout our service territory. By doing this, our crews can quickly respond to outages, assist first responders, and monitor weather conditions and electrical system operations in real time. Should those conditions necessitate the preemptive disruption of power through a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), this input will be crucial to ensuring their scope is well justified. 

KEC’s Multi-Pronged Approach to Prevent Wildfire

KEC’s approach to preventing fire doesn’t stop there. We also invest heavily in vegetation management, which protects the reliability of the electric system and mitigates wildfire risk by focusing on the identification and removal of hazardous trees as well as the pruning of vegetation that interferes with the cooperative’s distribution lines. In 2023, 110 miles of power line right-of-way was cleared, and numerous hazardous trees were removed. 

We are also reducing wildfire risk and improving reliability through overhead to underground power line conversions. Last year, KEC received a FEMA grant to convert 23 miles of overhead power lines in the Spirit Lake East subdivision to underground. The grant we received will fund 90 percent of this project’s cost.

Finally, fire mitigation isn’t something we plan for only in the summer, KEC also invests heavily in advanced technologies, including a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), which provides valuable, real-time indications of equipment status to engineering and operations staff at the KEC headquarters.

How KEC Members May Be Affected

You might be wondering how Avista’s PSPS plan could affect you. First, a little background: as a distribution cooperative, KEC purchases most of the power it sells to members from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). That power is delivered to KEC over transmission lines that belong to BPA and Avista. 

For this reason, there is always the potential that power disruptions initiated by BPA or Avista could affect KEC members. This is especially true if one of BPA’s or Avista’s transmission lines that provides power to one of our substations is affected by a PSPS. In these situations, the duration of the power interruption to KEC members will be dictated by the duration of BPA’s or Avista’s PSPS. 

In addition, due to the proximity of some of KEC and Avista’s power lines, both organizations may face the same circumstances regarding wildfire mitigation. It’s important to note that public safety power shut-offs are an option of last resort and KEC would only use them as such.

If a PSPS occurs, it would only affect selected areas where the danger is the highest, not the entire KEC grid. While we understand this is unfortunate, we are supportive of its appropriate use and may find ourselves in a similar position if weather conditions are severe. Members are more likely to be affected by a PSPS if they live in rural or wildland areas.  

Please know that our efforts are rooted in safety, and we will do our best to ensure that PSPS are infrequent and used as a last resort. And should a PSPS be deemed necessary, we will do our best to provide members with ample notice. If used, members should view them as the only option the cooperative had to keep its electrical infrastructure and the public safe. 

Safety and Preparation Reminders

As a reminder, KEC cannot guarantee uninterrupted electric service or priority power restoration. Please review tips for safety and power outage planning for those who rely on electricity for medical needs.