SPOKANE, Wash. — Avista announced Wednesday that it’s adjusting its power line operations for the summer in preparations for wildfire season.
Avista’s power lines will now operate on what it calls Fire Safety Mode. That means the system automatically responded to faults, such as a tree branch that hits a line and shuts the line down.
Under normal operating procedures, the line automatically tries to re-energize. Under Fire Safety Mode, it may require a crew to inspect the line before it is re-energized. That means power for customers could be out for a longer amount of time, but the risk of wildfire started by downed power lines is reduced.
Avista is encouraging customers in both Washington and Idaho to update their accounts and let the company know if there are medical devices in their homes that rely on electricity.
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