LPEA is implementing a coordinated set of operational, technological and community-focused strategies to reduce wildfire 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.

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. 

Smarter Technology for a Safer Grid

We have partnered with Firescape to deploy machine learning models that assess wildfire risk across our 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 

We have also directed our 2026 community sponsorship program toward supporting wildfire mitigation and preparedness. Our 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. 

Public Safety Power Management

We are enacting a series of power management protocols in order to limit the risk of wildfire ignition due to debris on power lines or downed lines. These include:

  • Modified system settings during Red Flag conditions – When these settings are activated, our system’s infrastructure will automatically detect a potential fire hazard (Ex: Tree limb on the line) and proactively de-energize. This significantly reduces fire risk until crews can assess the situation and restore power once it’s safe to do so. 
  • Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) when extreme weather conditions exist, and fire risk is very high.

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. 

How to prepare
for an outage

  • Update your contact information with LPEA. 
  • Log In to SmartHub
  • Have a personal safety plan for every member of your household (including pets). 
  • Plan for any medical needs (ex: devices that require power or medications that need to be refrigerated).
  • Is your generator set up correctly?  (Here is some more information on generator safety and requirements.) 
  • Create or restock your emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies, and cash. (Ready.gov has a great checklist.)
  • Identify backup charging methods for phones and medical equipment. 
  • Know how to open your garage door manually. 
  • Set your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting to keep food cold. Find more food safety notes here. (LPEA is not responsible for spoiled food.) 
  • Turn off or unplug electrical appliances or equipment that could surge when power returns. 

Fire & Mitigation Resources

Important Terms Defined

Issued by the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning signals dangerous fire-weather conditions: high winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. For LPEA, a Red Flag Warning is one of the primary triggers for evaluating whether enhanced protective measures need to be activated.

One of LPEA's most foundational wildfire prevention tools. Three dedicated crews cycle through all 2,000 miles of LPEA's overhead lines on a 2-to-3 year schedule, clearing trees and branches that could contact power lines and start a fire. The terrain in La Plata and Archuleta Counties often requires crews to climb in areas where trucks can't reach.

Even with our best effort, when the wind is strong enough to bring down branches from outside our right-of-way, no amount of trimming fully eliminates the risk.

The zone where developed land meets undeveloped wildland. Much of LPEA's service territory sits in or near this interface, which is where wildfire risk to both homes and infrastructure is highest.

LPEA has partnered with Firescape, a technology company, to deploy machine learning models that assess wildfire risk across the cooperative's service territory every hour. The platform draws from satellite imagery, weather data, wind speed, humidity, and fuel conditions to help LPEA identify where risk is highest, so crews and resources can be deployed accordingly.

 

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.

Issued up to 48 hours before a possible shutoff event. A Watch means conditions are trending toward a PSPS, but one hasn't been confirmed. Members should begin preparing.

Issued up to 4 hours before a shutoff is expected to occur. A Warning means a PSPS is highly likely. Members should finalize preparations, including medications, food safety plans, and generator setup.

The buffer zone created around a home or structure by removing or reducing flammable vegetation. LPEA's community partner Wildfire Adapted Partnership (WAP) offers free site assessments to help homeowners evaluate and improve their defensible space. WAP also runs a chipper rebate program that reimburses up to 50 percent of the cost of vegetation clearing.