UPDATE - SEPT. 11:
Improving weather conditions have prompted NV Energy to cancel its Public Safety Outage Management Watch for most of the northern Nevada areas that had been under consideration for a possible power shutoff, though four zones remain under watch.
According to NV Energy, the company removed nine areas from PSOM Watch status after reviewing updated weather forecasts, field observations and fire risk assessments.
The areas returning to normal status are Incline – Mt. Rose, Incline – East, Glenbrook – North, Glenbrook – South, Genoa South, Stateline – Upper Kingsbury, Heavenly, Lakeview Carson and Winnemucca.
Four zones remain under a PSOM Watch and will continue to be monitored throughout the day:
- Glenbrook – East Spooner, affecting approximately 76 customers
- South Carson City – Clear Creek, affecting approximately 9 customers
- South Carson City – Jacks Valley, affecting approximately 53 customers
- Virginia City Highlands, affecting approximately 677 customers
NV Energy said conditions across northern Nevada are trending favorably, with Critical Risk Index values declining and reducing overall wildfire risk in many areas that had been under consideration for a PSOM event.
Increased moisture and the timing of peak winds are helping keep fire weather risk below key PSOM thresholds in most zones. Higher-than-normal winds are still expected in parts of northern Nevada and could cause weather-related power outages unrelated to PSOM operations.
The remaining Watch areas could still see a proactive outage if conditions worsen. NV Energy is continuing to monitor weather forecasts, fuel conditions, field observations and information from fire agencies and emergency response partners.
Customers in the four remaining Watch zones are encouraged to review and activate their personal emergency preparedness plans.
The original PSOM Watch covered 13 northern Nevada zones, including areas around Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Virginia City Highlands and Winnemucca. A Watch meant weather conditions such as high winds, low humidity and high temperatures could lead NV Energy to proactively de-energize equipment to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition.
The company had previously said any potential de-energization would have occurred at approximately 11 a.m. Saturday, September 12, and lasted until 11 a.m. Sunday, September 12.
More information, including PSOM updates, preparedness resources and zone maps, is available at nvenergy.com/PSOM.
ORIGINAL STORY - SEPT. 9:
NV Energy has announced a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) Watch for multiple locations across northern Nevada.
If NV Energy needs to de-energize, it would happen at approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12 and last until 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 12.
The following zones are under a PSOM:
• Incline – Mt. Rose – approximately 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
PSOMs are preventive actions taken by NV Energy to prevent wildfires based on extreme weather criteria.
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 prevent potential wildfire ignition.
For more information, visit nvenergy.com/PSOM.
(NV Energy contributed to this report.)
