Recent Tooele power outages have a purpose says Rocky Mountain Power

TOOELE, Utah — Multiple Tooele power outages have residents complaining. However, Rocky Mountain Power says there’s a good reason behind them. 

The power outages have been on purpose according to Jona Whitesides of Rocky Mountain Power. It’s part of an effort to harden the power lines by wrapping the poles with flame resistant fabric, replacing wooden poles with steel towers and powering down lines when weather or wildfire threats are detected. 

“A lot of people been wondering, ‘Hey what’s been going on? I feel like you’ve had more power outages this summer than we had last year,’ and that has been the reason why,” said Whitesides.

He said Rocky Mountain Power has about 200 weather stations attached to power poles. They give real-time data and help the power company  determine when to activate enhanced safety measures, like turning off power.

Additionally, de-energizing the lines helps prevent sparking on lines, which can lead to wildfires. Storms are often a cause of power outages. The data provides weather alerts, giving Rocky Mountain Power time to adjust settings, often causing the temporary power outages.

Related: 

• Renewable power relationships still strong in Utah
• Rocky Mountain Power offers tips on how to save energy and on power bill