Wildfire season is underway, and while Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC) works year-round to provide safe and reliable electric service, outages can occur with little warning due to wildfires, extreme weather, equipment damage, or when requested by emergency responders.
We understand that some members were frustrated by the outages that occurred during last weekend's Red Flag Warning conditions. To clarify, KEC did not initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), however, unplanned outages did occur. For safety reasons, power could not be restored until the Red Flag Warning expired, weather conditions improved and crews were able to patrol the lines to ensure they were clear and could be safely re-energized.
We heard feedback from members regarding the limited communication during these events. We recognize the importance of timely, clear updates and are working to provide more information during future outages of this nature.
We are also encouraging members to take steps now to develop a plan that will help them be better prepared if an extended outage occurs. Below are some tips on how you can prepare your home.
Have an Emergency Plan
Unfortunately, KEC cannot guarantee uninterrupted electric service, especially during fire season. Every member's needs are different, but now is the time to review your emergency preparedness plans and ensure you have the supplies and backup resources you may need if the power goes out for an extended period.
Consider the following:
- Keep phones, battery packs and other essential devices fully charged.
- Maintain an adequate supply of drinking water and non-perishable food.
- If your home relies on a well, make plans for accessing water during an outage.
- If you have livestock, pets or other animals that depend on electric water systems, ensure you have backup water supplies available, such as stock tanks or water storage containers.
- If someone in your household relies on medical equipment or has another critical need for continuous power, arrange for a backup power source or an alternate location where power is available.
Stay Connected
The best way to receive outage updates is to ensure your contact information is current and has been verified within your SmartHub account.
Please take a moment to verify or update your information through SmartHub. First, select Settings and then Contact Methods to ensure your contact information is up to date. Then, go to Manage Notifications also under Settings to select if you would like to receive outage notifications by phone, text message, or email.
We also encourage you to add KEC’s email address (kec@smarthub.coop) to your safe sender list so important outage and safety messages don't end up in your spam or junk folder.
If you need assistance with SmartHub or updating your contact information, we're happy to help.
Outage information and updates can also be found by visiting our online Outage Map or our Facebook page.
What to do During an Outage or Emergency
- If there is an immediate risk to health and safety, relocate or contact 9-1-1 if necessary.
- Follow emergency instructions and evacuation orders issued by local authorities.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Use coolers and ice when necessary to preserve perishable food.
- If you use a generator, always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions. Generators should only be used outdoors and well away from homes, garages, and enclosed spaces. Never connect a generator directly to your home's wiring unless it has been properly installed with approved transfer equipment.
Wildfire-Related Outages
During an active wildfire, emergency responders may direct KEC to de-energize portions of our system to help protect the public and firefighters working in the area.
Restoration may be delayed during Red Flag Warnings or other hazardous conditions. Once conditions improve and it’s determined an area is safe, crews can then make needed repairs, patrol the affected power lines to confirm they are clear and safe, and then restore power. Because these steps must be completed first, offering restoration times can be difficult to provide.
It's also important to remember that even when conditions appear calm near your home, severe weather or fire conditions elsewhere on the electric system can still impact your service.
At times, outages or operational changes by KEC's transmission provider may disrupt the cooperative’s power supply and your service. Unfortunately, these events can happen with little to no advance warning.
All of KEC's wildfire mitigation efforts are guided by one priority: the safety of our members, employees, first responders, and communities.
Learn More
Wildfire season can extend into October in North Idaho. The preparedness steps outlined above can help you stay ready not only during wildfire season, but also during winter storms and other emergencies throughout the year.
Thank you for taking the time to prepare. Being ready before an outage occurs can make all the difference for your family, property and peace of mind.