INCLINE VILLAGE
Editor’s note, 3:45 p.m.: NV Energy has canceled all remaining Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) Watch areas in northern Nevada following updated weather forecasts, fire weather assessments, and operational reviews that indicate conditions have improved sufficiently to reduce the need for proactive power outages.
Editor’s note, 1:45 p.m.: NV Energy has canceled its Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) Watch for several previously identified northern Nevada locations as weather conditions continue to improve and wildfire risk decreases across much of the region.
- Incline – Mt. Rose
- Incline – East
- Glenbrook – North
- Glenbrook – South
- Genoa South
- Stateline – Upper Kingsbury
- Heavenly
- Lakeview Carson
- Winnemucca
Previous: The National Weather Service in Reno, Elko, and Las Vegas have issued Fire Weather Watches covering the majority of Nevada for Saturday, Sept. 12, meaning critical fire weather conditions are possible, including strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation that could allow fires to start easily and spread rapidly.
NV Energy is issuing a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) Watch for customers in the following zones:
- Incline – Mt. Rose – 1 customer
- Incline – East – approximately 493 customers
- Glenbrook – North – approximately 94 customers
- Glenbrook – East Spooner – approximately 76 customers
- Glenbrook – South – approximately 979 customers
- South Carson City – Clear Creek – approximately 9 customers
- South Carson City – Jacks Valley – approximately 53 customers
- Genoa South – approximately 591 customers
- Stateline – Upper Kingsbury – approximately 1,493 customers
- Heavenly – approximately 3 customers
- Virginia City Highlands – approximately 677 customers
- Lakeview Carson – approximately 569 customers
- Winnemucca – approximately 5,807 customers
If NV Energy needs to de-energize, it would begin at approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, and last until approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13.
PSOMs are preventive actions taken by NV Energy to prevent wildfires based on extreme weather criteria. The current fire weather forecasts indicate that a PSOM is likely in these areas.
A watch means that certain weather conditions, including high winds, low humidity, and high temperatures, may require NV Energy to proactively de-energize equipment to ensure community safety and prevent potential wildfire ignition. This timeframe includes the duration of the weather event and the time needed for NV Energy crews to inspect lines and other equipment for damage, vegetation, or debris to safely restore power.
“Some areas of northern Nevada are experiencing exceptionally dry conditions, and fire risk is as high as we’ve seen in certain zones,” said Alex Hoon, principal meteorologist for NV Energy. “With a strong wind event expected this weekend, any fire ignition could have the potential to spread rapidly. We recognize that any outage, whether planned or unplanned, creates hardships for the customers and communities affected. However, when extreme weather and wildfire conditions align like this, keeping public safety at the forefront of our decision-making is critical. We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely and provide updates as we evaluate the need for Public Safety Outage Management operations.”
Safety is NV Energy’s highest priority. PSOM is a key measure to help protect the community and environment from wildfires. During a PSOM event, power is shut off to prevent power lines, or debris blowing into power lines, and other equipment from causing a wildfire when certain environmental conditions are met.
Factors contributing to a PSOM event include weather conditions, vegetation levels that can fuel a fire, field observations, and guidance from local fire departments and other first responders. All impacted customers will be notified via phone, text, and email messages.
NV Energy continues to monitor fire weather conditions and will provide regular updates to impacted customers regarding the status of the outage event. Based on past experience, wind conditions can escalate quickly without notice. A PSOM Watch may be canceled if weather conditions improve.
Learn how to prepare for a PSOM outage: Outage Preparation Tips | NV Energy
For additional information, PSOM criteria, preparedness information, and PSOM Zone maps, please visit nvenergy.com/psom.
~ NV Energy press release
