CALGARY, Alberta–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As Alberta’s wildfire season begins, AltaLink is committed to protecting communities while delivering the safe and reliable power that Albertans depend on.
Over the last two years, Alberta has seen more than 2.9 million hectares burned and 2,200 wildfires reported. As Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider, AltaLink is focused on mitigating wildfire risk in the areas where it operates with a series of safety measures and enhancements to its system.
“With wildfires becoming more frequent and intense throughout Alberta, reducing the likelihood that our transmission system contributes to the ignition of a fire is a critical part of our job in delivering power safely to Albertans,” said Evan Mitchell, AltaLink’s vice president of system operations and asset investment planning. “We’ve seen the devastation that wildfires can cause to communities both in Alberta and across North America and we are taking action to help prevent it from happening.”
Proactive wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness
In 2019, AltaLink became the first utility in Alberta to establish a wildfire mitigation plan. Its approach is based on scientific-backed wildfire modelling created by external wildfire experts.
Since then, AltaLink has implemented a series of safety measures and system enhancements to increase situational awareness and mitigate the risk of the transmission system contributing to the ignition of a wildfire. This includes enhanced vegetation clearing practices to maintain safe clearance distances to reduce potential contact with power lines that can result in a fire, increased inspections of equipment in high-risk fire areas, asset replacements or upgrades to strengthen the system and real-time analysis of weather conditions using daily hazard forecasts, advanced weather stations and cameras.
AltaLink is also focused on expanding its emergency preparedness through ongoing engagement with industry partners, government agencies, emergency services and community leaders to ensure effective coordination and communication in the event of an emergency.
Public Safety Power Shutoff: a last-resort safety measure
During extreme and dangerous weather conditions that could result in a catastrophic fire, as a last resort AltaLink may implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). This involves temporarily shutting off power to impacted transmission lines until conditions are safe to turn it back on. While these shutoffs are only used as a last resort, they are a preventive tool to ensure public safety.
“Shutting the power off is not a decision we take lightly,” explained Mitchell. “Albertans rely on us to deliver the electricity they use every day, and we take that responsibility seriously. Safety is always our top priority. Activating a Public Safety Power Shutoff is about protecting the community and keeping people safe.”
Each situation is unique. A wide range of factors are assessed before executing a Public Safety Power Shutoff, including wind speeds, humidity levels, the presence of dry vegetation or other potential fuels in the area, fire in the vicinity and real-time observation on the ground.
Whenever possible, AltaLink will provide advance notice before a PSPS occurs. However, rapidly changing wildfire conditions may require swift action. AltaLink is committed to providing timely communication and updates to affected communities should such an action be necessary. Once conditions improve, crews inspect affected transmission lines for damage and debris to ensure any risk is eliminated before safely restoring power.
How Albertans can prepare and stay informed
Given the unpredictability of wildfire-related power outages, AltaLink encourages all Albertans to take proactive steps to prepare:
- Create an emergency plan that accounts for potential power outages and evacuations
- Gather a 72-hour emergency kit with essential supplies
- Ensure a backup power plan is in place for medical devices that require electricity
- Follow AltaLink on social media for real-time updates
AltaLink also works closely with electricity distribution providers, like FortisAlberta, to communicate with customers during events like power outages. To receive critical information, it’s important to confirm that your local electricity retailer has your latest contact information.
For more information about what AltaLink is doing and how you can prepare, visit altalink.ca/wildfiresafety.
About AltaLink
Headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider. AltaLink is partnering with its customers to provide innovative solutions to meet the province’s demand for reliable and affordable energy. AltaLink is part of a global group of companies delivering energy services to customers worldwide. Learn more at www.altalink.ca.
Contacts
For more information please contact:
Amanda Sadleir
Manager, Corporate Communications
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Phone: 403.585.7289
E-mail: [email protected]
