US EditionProactive wildfire power shutoff suspended after rural B.C. officials file complaint
- At the end of April, FortisBC implemented a new safety measure that involves preemptively cutting power to selected rural areas in British Columbia to reduce wildfire risks during extreme weather conditions.
- The policy's announcement occurred before consultation with local governments and communities, prompting criticism from Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne and other regional directors during a May 8 presentation.
- Coyne and the regional board, together with the Town of Princeton, decided to submit an official grievance to the Utilities Commission, asserting that the planned power shutoffs would breach the Utilities Commission Act and emphasizing the potential dangers to vulnerable residents and the community’s access to essential services.
- On May 12, the British Columbia Utilities Commission directed FortisBC to suspend the PSPS implementation pending review and ordered the company to file its policy by May 20, while FortisBC committed to revising its approach.
- Both FortisBC and local officials emphasized the need for a balanced approach to wildfire prevention that minimizes disruptions, with officials hoping future policies include local consultation before implementation.
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FortisBC's wildfire prevention plan to cut power in B.C. Interior during extreme heat suspended #BCNews #CDNNews #BC #Canada
The B.C. Utilities Commission has temporarily quashed a FortisBC plan to cut power to some customers in the southern Interior during extreme heat and wind events after a complaint from the Town of Princeton. The commission has suspended FortisBC’s new “public safety power shutoff” policy, which Fortis described as a precautionary measure in which it would shut off the power in high-risk fire regions during extreme weather conditions. Fortis said…
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