Frequently asked questions about rotating outages
- SRP advised customers that rotating outages were possible on Wednesday, Aug. 19 because demand for electricity might have exceeded supply and delivery capabilities, due to the Salt Fire threatening a key transmission line. We asked customers to use electricity wisely on Wednesday to help prevent outages between 3-9 p.m.
Here are some suggestions:
Keep window shades, blinds or drapes closed to block the sunlight during the hottest part of the day.
Set your cooling system thermostat to 80 degrees or higher.
Lights and appliances generate heat. Turn them off when they are not absolutely needed.
Use an outdoor grill for cooking instead of your microwave, kitchen oven or stove.
Delay using appliances and equipment, such as pool filters, washers, dryers and dishwashers until the evening.
- Since the demand and supply of electricity occurs and changes constantly and instantaneously, we will be unable to tell if and when your home or business will be affected by a rotating outage.
Circuits (lines that supply power to a combination of residential and/or business customers within a geographical area) that serve customers who provide essential public health and safety, e.g., large hospitals, communications facilities (broadcast media and 911 services), water delivery systems, and waste water treatment plants, are exempted. All other customers are subject to rotating outages.
If you have life support equipment:
Consider obtaining an uninterruptible power source (such as a portable generator or battery backups) to operate medical equipment if you lose power and a telephone that operates without electricity (cellular phone). We strongly recommend these two items.
Develop a contingency plan to move life-support equipment and the person who uses it in case of a power outage.
Call the appropriate emergency number or "911" if someone in your home requires immediate medical attention or needs transportation to a medical facility.
- A rotating outage is a temporary, scheduled service interruption conducted by SRP that lasts from 20 minutes to an hour. We will manage these actions so that all customers are treated fairly with limited inconveniences.
We have sufficient resources to meet our customers' energy needs this summer. Despite our efforts, summer storms, traffic accidents, equipment failures and other circumstances beyond our control can result in an interruption of your electric service. Rotating outages are only used in extreme situations to protect SRP's electric system from damage. However, we cannot predict how often we may face situations that force us to conduct these outages.
