Extreme Boise Weather May Cause Power Shutoff, Helicopter Patrol

Alerts and warnings being released from Idaho Power early this morning are warning Treasure Valley residents that extreme weather is on the way--and we may be feeling the impact of said weather on the power grid.

Just this week, we shared that Idaho Power was experiencing record breaking electricity usage. The heat has many homes and businesses running air conditioning and the likes more than normal. Now, this extreme weather pattern has Idaho Power concerned for public safety.

In an alert sent out to the public just after 10:30 Mountain Time this morning, Idaho Power shared that the extreme weather could cause a 'Public Safety Power Shutoff' between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Idaho Power explains what a 'PSPS' is on their website:

A PSPS is a last resort to prevent wildfires. From trimming trees to wrapping poles in fire-resistant mesh to maintaining and inspecting our equipment, wildfire mitigation is part of year-round, everyday operations at Idaho Power. During times of elevated fire risk, we can also limit automatic re-energization of tripped lines or increase the sensitivity of devices that automatically de-energize our powerlines. While these measures may result in more frequent or longer outages for customers living in or near wildfire risk zones, it’s an important tool in decreasing wildfire risk and keeping our communities safe.

The alert from Idaho Power continued to explain that in some areas, helicopter patrols may be deployed, to have a more advantageous look at what's going on in more difficult terrains.

Take a look at these recent alerts, below:

You can learn more about these 'Public Safety Power Shutoffs' -- and even find out if your address is a likely part of the process by entering your address, HERE.