UPDATE 8:09AM: NV Energy on Wednesday morning implemented Public Safety Outage Management power cuts in seven of the eight zones that were identified Tuesday.
Customers in the following seven zones are without power. The outage is affecting more than 15,000 customers across those zones.
- Genoa North
- South Carson City, Clear Creek
- South Carson City, Jacks Valley
- Virginia City Highlands
- Galena
- Washoe Valley
- Southwest Reno
- Customers in the Verdi zone remain in a WARNING status as of this morning. NV Energy says it may need to de-energize that area if certain conditions are met but they remain in power at this time.
UPDATE: 5:40PM: Based on updated and changing weather conditions, NV Energy has upgraded its Public Safety Outage Management watch to a warning and is extending the potential time frame of the outage for the eight zones identified previously Tuesday.
The proactive outage is possible on Wednesday, Nov. 20 starting at around 6 a.m. and lasting well into Thursday, Nov. 21. NV Energy says that based on the current weather forecast calling for gusty winds, there is an increased risk of fire for areas of South Carson City, Genoa, and Washoe Valley among other areas.
The warning is also for Glenbrook at Lake Tahoe, Virginia City Highlands, Galena, southwest Reno and Verdi.
See the latest weather forecast for Carson City and surrounding counties here.
The 6 a.m. to noon timeframe includes the duration of the weather event and the time it will take NV Energy crews to inspect lines and other equipment for damage, vegetation or debris in order to safely restore power.
Customers are encouraged to prepare a safety plan. Tips are available at nvenergy.com/psom.
During a PSOM event, NV Energy will proactively de-energize power for certain customers in high-risk zones to help protect the community and environment from wildfires, the utility says.
Proactive outages are a key measure of defense to help protect the community and environment from wildfires. During a proactive outage, power is shut off for safety in order to help prevent power lines, or debris blowing into power lines, and other equipment from causing a wildfire when certain environmental conditions are met.
Factors that contribute to a proactive outage include weather conditions, vegetation levels that can be used as fuel for a fire, field observations, guidance from local fire departments and other first responders.
All impacted customers have been notified via phone, text and email messages.
NV Energy will continue to monitor the 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. The proactive outage may be canceled if weather conditions improve.
NV Energy is working to provide notice to its Green Cross customers in the area and has offered them hotel accommodations if a PSOM event is initiated.
Additional information including PSOM updates, PSOM criteria, preparedness information and PSOM Zone maps can be found at nvenergy.com/PSOM.
