FortisBC could shut off power in West Boundary during extreme wildfire weather

Power lines run through a forested area in FortisBC’s electricity service territory. The utility’s Public Safety Power Shutoff policy allows selected lines in parts of the West Boundary to be temporarily de-energized when extreme wildfire conditions coincide with high sustained winds.

Photo: FortisBC

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Residents in Midway, Greenwood, Rock Creek and several other West Boundary communities could have their electricity intentionally shut off by FortisBC if extreme wildfire conditions and high winds develop at the same time.

The communities are among the areas covered by FortisBC’s Public Safety Power Shutoff policy, which allows the utility to proactively de-energize selected power lines when leaving them energized could increase the risk of starting a wildfire.

The current list for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary includes Midway, Greenwood, Beaverdell, Christian Valley, Westbridge, Rock Creek, Bridesville and Mount Baldy.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS, would not be triggered by an ordinary hot or dry day. FortisBC says both weather thresholds must be met before its PSPS initiation process begins.

The utility’s current public information says that process can begin when sustained winds exceed 75 kilometres per hour and the Fire Weather Index reaches 47 or more.

There is a small discrepancy between FortisBC’s public information and its formal 2026 procedure. The procedure filed with the B.C. Utilities Commission and effective July 1 describes the threshold as a Fire Weather Index greater than 47.

Even when the thresholds are reached, a shutoff is not automatic.

FortisBC also considers weather forecasts and warnings, real-time conditions, the state of its electrical system, information from emergency agencies and local governments, and whether other measures could reduce the risk before electricity is turned off.

The utility describes a PSPS as a last-resort wildfire prevention measure.

The measure is intended to reduce the risk that energized electrical equipment becomes an ignition source during severe weather. High winds can bring branches or other debris into contact with power lines at a time when vegetation is highly susceptible to fire.

Six Greenwood-area feeders covered

FortisBC’s formal PSPS procedure lists six distribution feeders in its Greenwood service area that are covered by the policy: KET1, KET2, KET5, KET6, MDY1 and MDY2.

Those lines range from a 1.65-kilometre feeder with a listed customer count of one to KET1, a 203.73-kilometre line with a customer count of 1,049.

Together, the six Greenwood-area feeders account for approximately 420 kilometres of line and a listed customer count of 2,952.

That figure is the combined customer count attached to all six feeders. It does not mean 2,952 customers would necessarily lose electricity during a single PSPS event. FortisBC says only selected lines in affected areas would be de-energized based on the conditions.

Power would also not necessarily return as soon as the wind subsides.

FortisBC’s procedure says an affected line or portion of line must be patrolled before it can be re-energized. Restoration is intended to prioritize critical infrastructure while also returning power to the greatest possible number of customers as quickly as possible.

The duration of an outage would depend on weather conditions and the time required to inspect the electrical system. If the weather has damaged infrastructure, some customers could remain without power after the PSPS itself has ended.

Residents could receive several days’ warning

When forecasts provide enough lead time, FortisBC says customers could receive the first notice of a possible shutoff two to three days before the expected conditions.

A warning would generally follow about 24 hours before the event if a shutoff becomes likely, followed by an “imminent” notice approximately four hours beforehand.

Where possible, FortisBC would begin shutting off electricity about two hours before the forecast conditions arrive.

Those timelines are not guaranteed. The utility says weather can change quickly enough that notification stages may be shortened or skipped, and a PSPS could occur without advance warning.

FortisBC also has additional notification procedures for registered vulnerable customers who depend on electricity for medical needs.

Midway, Greenwood and RDKB opposed the policy

The PSPS policy generated opposition from several Boundary local governments when FortisBC introduced it in 2025.

The B.C. Utilities Commission suspended implementation of the policy in May 2025 while it reviewed whether FortisBC had the authority under its electric tariff to deliberately disconnect customers as a wildfire-prevention measure.

The Village of Midway, City of Greenwood and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary were among those that submitted letters opposing the policy during the proceeding.

According to the BCUC decision, the local-government submissions raised concerns about impacts on medically vulnerable residents, community facilities, emergency communications and businesses.

Other individual submissions to the proceeding raised concerns including food spoilage, loss of air conditioning and reduced access to basic services during extreme weather.

The BCUC ultimately found the PSPS policy was consistent with FortisBC’s electric tariff and lifted the suspension.

Its 2025 order required FortisBC to undertake further engagement with affected communities through Oct. 31, 2025, and required additional engagement before expanding the policy to new areas.

FortisBC revised the policy again this year, effective July 1, adding four distribution feeders elsewhere in its service territory. The six Greenwood-area feeders remained covered.

The BCUC accepted the revisions on Aug. 5.

In its decision, the commission noted that FortisBC reported working with Indigenous communities and local governments to identify critical infrastructure, vulnerable customers and restoration priorities. The BCUC said it expects that engagement to continue as the policy develops.

For residents of communities including Rock Creek, Greenwood and Midway, a deliberate power outage is therefore one of the measures FortisBC can use when wildfire weather and wind conditions reach its PSPS thresholds.

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