Image Credit: Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative

A proposal by FortisBC that could see power shut off to tens of thousands of residents across the South Okanagan and Similkameen during extreme weather emergencies was met with sharp criticism from members of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen board last week.

The utility’s representatives — Hayley Newmarch, Manager of Community and Indigenous Relations; Rob Maschek, Project Manager; and T.M. Sandulak, Emergency Management Manager — presented details about FortisBC’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, May 8.

The program would allow Fortis to proactively shut down portions of the electrical grid when wildfire risks reach critical levels. The intent is to prevent wildfires ignited by electrical infrastructure.

However, RDOS directors said the plan could do more harm than good.

People could die, Coyne warns

Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne responded angrily, warning that lives could be at risk if power is shut off during the frequent extreme heat events in the region.

“There’s a lot of emotion in our Valley right now,” he said. “There are 10,000-plus people that are thinking that all of August, we’re going to be without power, because we’re under an extreme heat (warning) most of August.”

Shutting off the power would cut access to water provided by treatment plants that need electricity to run and a power outage could eliminate medical services or access to gas stations and refrigerators and freezers would not work, said Coyne.

“We’re going to lose our food,” he said. “We won’t have a restaurant to go to. We won’t have a grocery store to go to. Has any of this been taken into consideration?

“Our industries are going to shut down and we’re going to be without jobs at this time too. Like, has any of this been considered, because none of us have been talked to at this level. We’re talking about having to evacuate hundreds, if not thousands of people, because you guys are looking at having to turn off the power because it’s hot out.”

Coyne acknowledged Fortis’ effort to reduce liability but asked, “Who will pay for the losses in our communities?”

Maschek emphasized the PSPS would be used only as a last resort.

Coyne remained unconvinced.

He understands Fortis is attempting to minimize its risk and not get sued, but he wondered “who is going to pay for the losses in our communities.”

Mashek reiterated Fortis would only move forward with a PSPS event as a last resort.

This didn’t appease Coyne.

“Sorry, that’s not acceptable,” he said. “When it’s 40-plus degrees out, people are going to start dying because they don’t have air conditioning. I get where you guys are coming from, I really do, but you have to get where we’re coming from.

“We have vulnerable individuals who are going to die because they don’t have air conditioning.”

Other directors join in

Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes wondered why Fortis is moving ahead with this power shutdown initiative now as wildfires have been around forever in this region.

The increase in frequency and scope of wildfires has increased dramatically across the Fortis coverage area in the 20 years he’s worked for Fortis, said Mashek.

“I’ve been evacuated myself five times,” he said.

Director Adrienne Fedrigo said Fortis has come into communities like Naramata, which she represents on the RDOS board, and “decimated the trees” to build more power lines.

“It’s awful that those trees have been decimated ... we have large milling companies who would love to log under your electrical lines way out in a remote area,” she said.

The threat to thousands of residents that they might have their power turned off with only a day or two of notice is scary to many people she’s talked to, said Fedrigo.

“You’re just adding and compounding to that stress,” she said. “I’m not sure where to go with this, but I think it has to be thought out a little bit more. We’re looking at life over profit. I’m not sure if that’s fair to say, but ... that’s how it feels.”

Sandulak said the PSPS concept was inspired by California wildfires a decade ago. Since then, many utilities across North America, including in Washington State and Alberta, have adopted similar measures.

“Those public power shutoff programs have slowly been moving north and east across North America,” he said, adding numerous power providers in Washington State have initiated power shutdown programs during extreme weather events.

“It is the very, very last resort,” he said.

Lack of consultation

Director Tim Roberts was angry that Fortis management didn’t discuss this serious issue with community leaders, before issuing a recent press release about the PSPS program.

“This was a discussion that definitely needed to happen before it went to the public,” he said. “Trust me, you had better be prepared for your meeting in Keremeos. You should see social media. It’s buzzing.”

Coyne blasted Fortis managers again for the way they do business in many rural communities.

“You guys have no problems going to our parks and cutting down our trees in the parks and mutilating them there,” he said. “But because they’re on the side of the road or near somebody’s fancy house on a lake, you’re just going to leave them. This is the problem. The solution here is not equal to what you’re proposing.

“You go by my farm and you devastate pretty much every single, living thing, but then I drive by another area and the power lines are literally embedded in the trees. Why is that allowed.”

Coyne stated the residents that would be affected by a power shutdown “are on the wrong end of this” and he urged Fortis to reconsider its PSPS program.

“We took a look at our system and determined that the risk of us (Fortis) potentially being involved in starting a fire that could result in human loss is overwhelming,” said Mashek.

Coyne urged Fortis to reconsider the PSPS plan, warning that residents are “on the wrong end of this.”

Fortis emphasizes fire risk and last resort nature

Director Matt Taylor said his biggest concern is the amount of people who would eventually have to be evacuated due to a power shutdown “would be massive. This is a really big deal that you’re potentially triggering. I’m talking the number of people and the number of homes that would eventually have to evacuate.”

Rural Princeton Director Bob Coyne, Spencer’s father, criticized Fortis’ public communications.

Coyne Sr. said the recent press release “put a whole lot of panic into a whole lot of people without a really good explanation about what was going on” in his district.

Many residents and business owners have told him they don’t have the money to buy a backup generator, he said.

“The way it came out is this is going to happen when it gets hot and dry,” he said. “I think you’ve done a terrible job of putting it out to the public. I think it’s kind of a half-baked idea that you’re still working or they’re not sharing all of the information with the public. It’s one of the two.”

He believes the program’s primary motivation is avoiding liability. “That’s what this is really about,” he said.

Fortis responds to concerns

Maschek acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.

“We understand the consequences and don’t take them lightly,” he said. “There’s a risk assessment process involved. If shutting off power would create a bigger public hazard, we wouldn’t do it.”

Coyne Jr. remained angry with that response, saying having the fate of thousands of residents determined by a board of directors in a multi-million corporation isn’t satisfactory.

Municipal leaders and First Nation Bands are “not part of that conversation” and should be, he said.

Fortis owns and operates more than 7,000 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines in B.C. Maschek said dry and hot conditions in regions like South Okanagan, Similkameen, and Boundary increase wildfire risk.

Fortis is hosting public information sessions to address concerns. A session is scheduled for May 14 at Greenwood Community Hall at 4 p.m., with another on May 16 at Keremeos Victory Hall, also at 4 p.m. A virtual open house is set for May 22 at 5 p.m. Go here for more information.

iNFOnews.ca editor's note: Since the article was published in the Penticton Herald, the British Columbia Utilities Commission has directed FortisBC to suspend the plan subject to a review by the independent government agency.

— This article was originally published by the Penticton Herald

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