High Wind is a Threat to Electric Cooperatives, How SECPA is Responding

~Anne Boswell

"You know what I'm saying?

Interim Chief Executive Officer Mark Hall read the room at Wednesday's board meeting and it was clear, they did indeed, know what he was saying.

Hall was talking about recent high winds and how the small rural cooperative is preparing for what is to come.

Public Safety Power Shut-Offs or PSPS, is a procedure that Hall believes the co-op's G and T, Tri-State will be following in the future. It basically is a pro-active de-energization measure to reduce the risk of wildfires in some conditions like:

• Gusty winds

• low humidity

• Very dry grass

• Red Flag Fire Warning Days from the National Weather Service

  
  

Hall thinks the procedure to shut off power when the risks are high will be part of a Wildfire Mitigation Plan that Colorado will follow. The power would be turned off when winds reach 55 miles per hour.

Southeast Colorado Power Association will likely be a part of that according to Hall.

"We'll have to get out there with Tri-State to patrol those lines."

It will also help the cooperatives learn more about power outages.

"We will have data on where the fault was and what caused the fault."

Talking to the board about the wind issue at this week's meeting, Hall explained that winds will likely be even worse next spring.

Board member Michelle Gardner jumped into the conversation prefacing it with that she would be the devil's advocate. She said the National Weather Service has predicted 75 mile per hour winds before that never came, so what do you do in that instance? "We say ok, we're going to shut everybody's power off so we don't burn stuff down and then lo and behold the wind doesn't even blow."

Hall mentioned another concern with doing that in some small rural communities is that once the power is off, so is the water.

Southeast Colorado Power has always been ready to help out with wildfires, according to Hall. He said if there's a fire and there's an irrigation well down the road and all parties are ok with it, they will help pump water with no charge.

"If we shut it off, that takes that away too,"

Gardner joined in to say it's tough because sometimes you have to just react to Mother Nature because she'll do what she wants.

"It has to be a judgement call," Board Member Lawrence Brasse added.

Another thing to think about, Hall contributed, is that there is a significant amount of fuel on the ground right now, referring to the high grasses in fields, pastures, and yards.

"Please don't think I'm saying that I'm saying that you shouldn't do what's best for Southeast and all of our consumers. But, I do sometimes think that like it or not, you have to react to the situation." Gardner finished.

The board agreed that the situation would be closely monitored and action, as needed, would be taken for safety.

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