BRANDON HANSEN / KCHW NEWS

As triple-digit temperatures scorched parts of eastern Washington this week, concerns have resurfaced about power reliability during extreme heat. While utility companies work to avoid blackouts, limited power shutoffs — including wildfire-prevention outages or load-balancing efforts — are legal under Washington state law.

In 2023, lawmakers passed protections that prohibit utilities from disconnecting power due to unpaid bills during excessive heat warnings. However, other types of disconnections — including those for safety, grid stability, or wildfire risk — remain legal, according to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Utilities are required to take precautions during severe weather and to minimize outages under WAC 480-100-128 and WAC 480-100-148. Any shutoffs must be reported when they occur during excessive heat.

Avista Utilities has a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) policy in place that allows the company to temporarily shut off power in high-risk areas during extreme wildfire conditions. The policy is designed to prevent power lines from igniting fires when weather conditions—such as high winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation—create dangerous scenarios. Avista monitors fire risk indicators and weather forecasts several days in advance and aims to notify customers 48 hours before a planned shutoff, with updates as conditions evolve.

Wildfire risk can also prompt power shutoffs. Utilities may disconnect power in high-risk areas based on factors like wind, humidity, and dry vegetation. Avista hasn’t yet needed a public safety power shutoff, but it is prepared.