Manager’s Message – August 2022

Wildfire Mitigation Efforts

Annie Terracciano headshotSummer is in full swing, bringing sunny days at the lake, outdoor activities, backyard barbecues and, unfortunately, wildfires.

In recent years, wildfires have emerged as a growing public safety concern throughout the West. Wildfires have many causes—from lightning to unattended campfire sparks. Electric utilities are doing their part to help keep communities safe.

Due to the extreme fire danger in our region, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)—which provides our power—has changed how it operates during times of red-flag weather warnings. When specific weather conditions exists—such as high winds, high temperatures, and low humidity—BPA may choose to temporarily shut off power to reduce the chance of the power lines starting fires.

If BPA does enact Public Safety Power Shutoffs in our area, Norther Lights, Inc. (NLI) members in the Priest River and Priest Lake areas will be affected. Other areas may briefly be affected during switching operations. Members will be notified, if possible. We will do everything we can to restore power as quickly as possible.

With our dry conditions, keeping vegetation away from power lines continues to be a top priority for NLI. We are constantly trimming trees and removing vegetation in utility easements to remove fuel for fires and keep trees and limbs from coming into contact with our lines to reduce fire risk.

NLI continues to work closely with BPA to monitor weather conditions and ensure we are taking all possible precautions to avoid a wildfire while maintaining our commitment to provide reliable electricity.

Enjoy the August weather and be safe. When we work together, we can keep the lights on and reduce our fire danger.

Annie Terracciano
General Manager