Rocky Mountain Power warns new wildfire safety settings could cause longer, more frequent outages

Rocky Mountain Power is fortifying their system against wildfire threats. Photo: Rocky Mountain Power

Rocky Mountain Power has warned that more frequent and longer outages could occur, especially during periods of elevated wildfire risk, due to the utility’s new 'enhanced safety settings.'

PARK CITY, Utah — Households in Park City neighborhoods have experienced multiple power outages throughout the past weeks as Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) installs and tests new wildfire prevention technology across its service area.

The utility is currently executing approximately 20 miles of line rebuild projects throughout the Park City area to adapt its system to the growing threat of wildfires in the Western United States. The upgrades include replacing aging wooden poles with fire-resistant steel ones, installing covered conductors designed to reduce ignition risk, and deploying enhanced safety devices that automatically shut down power when danger is detected.

Some of this work has already caused hours-long outages for residents. Looking ahead, RMP has warned that more frequent and longer outages could occur, especially during periods of elevated wildfire risk, due to the utility’s new “enhanced safety settings.”

These settings are designed to automatically de-energize power lines when debris, wildlife, or strong winds contact the lines. This protective measure can reduce the likelihood of electrical equipment starting a wildfire, but it also means power will remain off until field crews can inspect the lines and confirm it’s safe to restore electricity.

“A power outage is more likely to occur when these settings are in place, and you may experience a longer-than-typical outage as our field personnel work to confirm that power can be safely turned back on,” RMP wrote in a letter sent to affected households. “The safety of our customers and communities is our top priority, and we appreciate your patience.”

The upgrades are part of RMP’s broader wildfire mitigation strategy, which includes similar work in other high-risk regions across Utah and the Intermountain West. Many of the Park City projects are expected to be complete in 2025, with a few extending into 2026. In their letter, the utility encouraged residents to plan ahead, especially if they rely on electricity for medical devices or essential home systems.

More information, including preparedness tips and outage notifications, is available at RockyMountainPower.net.