Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Fortis B.C.
May 21, 2025 - 4:00 PM
FortisBC’s controversial policy to turn off power when extreme weather presents a serious wildfire risk is under review by the BC Utilities Commission after receiving criticism from customers in the areas of the Okanagan it serves.
The power company is working on a Public Safety Power Shutoff Policy that has faced some criticism. As it stands it would only come into effect during extreme weather beyond regular hot, dry summer days, according to a press release from FortisBC today, May 21. The concern is wind blowing down energized power lines and sparking wildfires.
The board for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen expressed serious concerns about the dangers posed by extended power outages including health risks from extreme heat with no air conditioning and prolonged periods where people wouldn’t have water.
The company said it would turn the power off if the Fire Weather Index was more than 47 and wind speeds were forecasted to be more than 75 km/h, which has only happened once in the last ten years in the regions it serves.
Natural resources Canada manages the Fire Weather Index which is a number based on how quickly a fire could spread in the given weather conditions as well as the amount of fire fuel in an area.
“It's exactly a last resort. The last thing we want to do as the power company is turn off people's power. So we're going to take every step we can to maintain power to people. However, if there's a dangerous condition that arises, it's something we would consider under those circumstances,” FortisBC communications advisor Gary Toft told iNFOnews.ca.
READ MORE: South Okanagan politicians furious with FortisBC plan to cut power in extreme weather
The regional district board said that FortisBC hadn’t properly communicated with local communities when developing the policy and didn’t explain it well when it was announced earlier this month.
Toft said FortisBC would try to give people 72 hours notice before their power is shut off and continue to communicate during any outage. He also said the company would try to keep outages short, up to 72 hours.
FortisBC filed the policy with the BC Utilities Commission for review and approval before it can actually go into practice.
Other power companies have been considering similar policies to reduce the amount of fires caused or worsened by power systems, but a shut off would be a rare event.
“We'd look at what other strategies we could take to reduce the risk of wildfires. And we would also look for input from our public safety partners and local and provincial governments, Indigenous communities and others,” Toft said.
FortisBC provides electricity to parts of the Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, west to Princeton and east to Kaslo.
Image Credit: FortisBC
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