PSOM

To protect its customers and community from the risk of extreme weather, NV Energy is implementing a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) program in extreme fire-risk areas during wildfire season.

Truckee Donner Public Utility District does not generate power locally and is dependent on NV Energy for transmission of electricity. NV Energy has announced an expansion of their wildfire safety de-energization program Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) where, based on catastrophic wildfire risk, NV Energy will de-energize transmission lines that deliver power to Truckee.

An illustration showing transmission lines, a substation, distribution lines, and buildings in Truckee, CA, with trees and mountains.

What To Expect

No single factor drives a PSOM event. NV Energy works with a weather analytics expert to closely monitor a number of environmental factors and work with local emergency management teams and other stakeholders to evaluate risk in order to determine whether to shut off power for safety. These environmental factors include, but are not limited to:

  • Weather Conditions, Temperature, wind gusts, humidity levels
  • Dry Vegetation as Fuel and Associated Energy
  • Field Observations
  • Location of any existing fires
  • Guidance from First Responders
  • Our Community's current Response to Covid-19

Timeline of Events

The outages, based on the length of the extreme wildfire danger period plus the time to visually inspect 100% of the electric system to safely restore power, will likely impact TDPUD’s entire customer base for one to a few days.  Unfortunately, TDPUD has no control over this situation.

  1. Extreme Weather Forecasted
    • NV Energy weather specialists forecast potential extreme weather.
  2.  Early Outage Warning Notification
    • TDPUD will attempt to notify all customers if an NV Energy PSOM is anticipated between 48-24 hours and 12-4 hours before the outage.
  3. Power Shut Off
    • Power is shut off to affected areas to prevent wildfire.
  4. Weather Event Over / Start of Inspection Patrols
    • After the weather event is over, NV Energy and TDPUD crews will inspect and patrol transmission and distribution lines to ensure that power can be restored safely. These patrols can take from 12 to 24 hours to complete.
  5. Power Restored
    • Once NV Energy has restored power to the transmission system, and after TDPUD has completed individual distribution line patrols, TDPUD will restore power to affected areas as quickly and safely as possible. Restoration may take 8-12 hours after NV Energy restores power.

How To Prepare

Like the weather, PSOM events can be unpredictable. Our goal is to provide notification as far in advance as possible and we will notify impacted customers directly, if possible, before shutting off power. The following resources can help you understand and prepare for them.

Additional Links:

Want to receive emergency TDPUD Nixle text alerts for major outages and emergencies?  Text TDPUD to 333111

The image details NV Energy's Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) process during extreme weather, including notifications and power restoration timelines.
The image outlines NV Energy's Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) process to prevent wildfire risks through electricity cutoffs.