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Weekend weather forecasts may require us to turn on Enhanced Powerline Settings in Kittitas County. These settings are designed to help keep you safe, but they may result in unplanned power outages.

Given the holiday, we've also added additional staffing for first responders and our operations center. Please be safe and do your part to prevent wildland fires. See this flyer from Washington State's Department of Natural Resources for important safety tips.


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Safety first:

  • Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized.
  • Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.
  • If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
  • Always use flashlights instead of candles.
  • Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning: Never install or use a generator indoors or in enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even those that are ventilated.

PSE takes a holistic approach to the evolving risk of wildfires by operating and improving our infrastructure to create an electric system that is reliable, resilient, and above all, safe.

PSE's Wildfire Risk Management Program includes our year-round work to reduce wildfire risk by:

  • Investing in projects to strengthen our infrastructure.
  • Utilizing real-time data and new technologies to enhance situational awareness.
  • Operating the electric system more conservatively during wildfire season to keep communities safe.
  • Partnering with emergency responders, local organizations, and our customers to build more resilient communities.

Read our current Wildfire Mitigation Plan for more details.

Year-round prevention efforts

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Vegetation management

Trees and other vegetation that grow too close to power lines can cause power outages and create a potential hazard, so PSE’s Vegetation Management program inspects and trim trees along 3,000 miles of power lines each year, including over 1,000 miles of lines in high wildfire risk areas.

Pre-season patrols and maintenance

We inspect high-risk lines annually to identify damage that may have occurred during winter storm season and perform maintenance before wildfire season. Crews inspect power lines and equipment from vehicles, on foot, and in some areas using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). This work, typically conducted between February and June, helps reduce wildfire risk and keeps our customers and communities safe.

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Strengthening the grid

PSE replaces and upgrades equipment to improve reliability and help prevent wildfires, including regularly inspecting and replacing poles, wires and other equipment, installing "tree wire" (specially coated overhead wire that helps prevent sparks), and strategically undergrounding power lines.

Learn more about our work in Kittitas County.

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Wildfire safe operations

PSE monitors real-time conditions and will operate our electric system more conservatively during wildfire season. When there's dangerous fire weather conditions, we may turn on Enhanced Powerline Settings (EPS) or use a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to help keep our customers and communities safe. These measures may result in outages. For more information or to report a power outage, visit PSE's Outage map.

Take steps now to prepare for wildfire season

  • Create and practice a household emergency plan and build an emergency kit.
  • Make sure your PSE account contact information is up to date.
  • If you use a medical device in your home that relies on electricity, apply for Life Support status on your account.
  • Sign up for county emergency alerts and learn more about neighborhood or community emergency response plans.
  • Maintain trees and other vegetation on your property and report danger trees near power lines to a PSE Arborist.
  • Get your free Wildfire Ready Plan from Washington Department of Natural Resources and take action to make your home and community more resilient.
  • Find resources for emergency preparedness from the American Red Cross.
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During high-risk weather conditions, we may use a Public Safety Power Shutoff to prevent wildfires from starting by proactively turning off power.

Learn more

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See a “danger tree” growing too close to power lines?

Please report it here

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