Taking time to avoid wildfires

It may take more time for power outages to be restored this summer, but it’s a temporary trade-off Avista is making to help protect its Washington and Idaho service area from wildfires following service outages.

The utility company announced Wednesday that it is undertaking precautionary measures in response to dry summer conditions.

“In most cases, lines located in rural and/or forested areas are normally re-energized automatically,” said an Avista news release. “However, during the current dry weather

conditions, Avista’s line personnel will physically patrol an outage area before a line is placed back into service.”

The company acknowledged this can require more time to restore service but decreases the potential fire danger.

“We call this 'dry-land mode' and have implemented this system for over 20 years,” the company said.

Since 2020, Avista has enhanced the dry land system by pairing it with a fire-weather monitoring system. This allows system operators and field managers to make more informed decisions to reduce fire risk.

This practice is part of Avista’s Wildfire Resiliency Plan which is ongoing and improves defense strategies such as “hardening” power lines and removing dead trees near lines.

“Avista appreciates the patience and understanding of its customers during this time,” the release said.

The company will return the distribution system to normal as soon as weather permits and fire potential decreases.