LPEA is implementing a coordinated set of operational, technological and community-focused strategies to reduce wildifre risk while continuing to provide safe and reliable electric service to its member-owners.
- Vegetation Management
- Smart Technology and Enhanced Grid Settings
- Community Partnerships
- Public Safety Power Shutoffs*
*Issuing a PSPS is not our first choice, and is not something that we will do lightly. LPEA will always work to restore power to our affected members as quickly as is safely possible.
How We're Using Vegetation Management for Wildfire Mitigation
LPEA maintains approximately 2,000 miles of overhead line, and keeping trees and branches clear of power lines is among the cooperative's most important and most challenging wildfire prevention tools. Three dedicated crews cycle through the entire system on a two-to-three-year schedule, often climbing trees in terrain that doesn't allow for truck access.
Learn more about vegetation management.
How We're Using Smarter Technology for a Safer Grid
LPEA has partnered with Firescape to deploy machine learning models that assess wildfire risk across the cooperative's service territory on an hourly basis. The platform helps LPEA pinpoint where risk is highest and when, allowing crews and resources to be deployed where they're needed most.
The cooperative is also implementing enhanced grid protection protocols during periods of high fire danger. Known in the industry as "fire settings," these configurations reduce or eliminate the automatic restoration of power after a fault is detected. Members may experience more outages when fire settings are in effect, but this significantly reduces the chance that a power line could ignite a fire.
Partnering with the Community
LPEA has also directed its 2026 community sponsorship program toward supporting wildfire mitigation and preparedness. Their first sponsorship recipient has been Wildfire Adapted Partnership (WAP), a nonprofit serving a five-county region in southwest Colorado. WAP helps homeowners reduce wildfire risk on their own properties through site assessments, a network of roughly 140 volunteer neighborhood ambassadors, and a chipper rebate program that reimburses homeowners up to 50 percent of the cost of vegetation clearing.
Learn more about sponsorships.
When will LPEA initiate a PSPS?
Issuing a PSPS is not our first choice, and is not something that we will do lightly. LPEA will always work to restore power to our affected members as quickly as is safely possible.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a wildfire mitigation tool that is used by utility companies to limit the risk of wildfire ignition due to downed equipment or debris. This is a common mitigation practice used during hot, dry, and windy conditions when fire risk is high. The intention behind a PSPS is to keep our communities safe.
There are several factors we take into consideration when evaluating the need for a PSPS:
- Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service in LPEA’s service territory
- Sustained winds along with low humidity
- Public safety concerns
- Availability of local resources to combat potential wildfires
- Existing wildfires encroaching on LPEA territory and equipment
How will LPEA communicate with members before, during, and after a PSPS event?
As we monitor extreme weather conditions and forecasts, we will do our best to notify and update our members.
PSPS Watch – When the necessary information is available in advance, LPEA will plan to issue a “PSPS Watch” up to 48 hours prior to a possible PSPS event, based on weather forecasts and other conditions. This does not necessarily mean a PSPS will occur, but members are encouraged to be prepared nonetheless.
PSPS Warning – When the necessary information is available in advance, LPEA will plan to issue a “PSPS Warning” up to 4 hours prior to a possible PSPS event. This indicates that a PSPS is highly likely, and members should prepare accordingly.
In accordance with its Electric Service Regulations, LPEA reserves the right to discontinue electric service without notice in the event of a condition determined by the Association to be hazardous.
How long will a PSPS Last?
Power will remain out for as long as extreme and dangerous conditions pose a potential fire risk. Depending on the severity of the weather and other factors, power outages could last from several hours to multiple days.
Once conditions are safe, LPEA crews will be required to visually patrol the power lines in the affected areas to ensure they are free from damage and can be safely reenergized. This process will be performed in stages, working from the substation out to the end of the lines, reenergizing as each section is deemed safe to do so.
If you experience an emergency during an outage, please call 911.
