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APS Ends Public Safety Power Shutoff; Flagstaff Area Fully Restored
Power is now restored to all Arizona Public Service (APS) customers impacted by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that began Wednesday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m. in high fire-risk communities in the Flagstaff area. APS activated the emergency measure to help prevent electrical equipment from starting or contributing to a wildfire during extreme weather conditions. When conditions improved, APS crews patrolled power lines to ensure there was no damage and no debris impacting the lines. Once crews confirmed it was safe to restore service, they turned on the electricity to those lines, energizing the final sections by 6:45 p.m.
“We care greatly about the safety of our customers, and we do not take the decision to shut off power lightly. A Public Safety Power Shutoff is only utilized when absolutely necessary and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of our customers as we took extra steps to help protect the communities we serve,” said Robbie Houle, APS Northern Division Manager of Transmission and Distribution. “We appreciate our partnerships with public safety officials and community leaders from Flagstaff, Coconino County and the Grand Canyon as we worked together during this period of extreme fire weather conditions.”
APS created its Public Safety Power Shutoff program in 2024 as part of its Comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan. This is the first time weather conditions were extreme enough to trigger a PSPS event.
- Our team of meteorologists utilized more than a dozen of APS’s weather stations to track high risk weather conditions around the clock and monitor wind speeds, humidity levels and terrain to make calculated safety shutoff decisions.
- APS works year-round to reduce wildfire risk. These efforts include inspecting more than 38,000 miles of powerlines, clearing hazardous and overgrown brush from around electrical equipment, investing in the latest fire mitigation technology and working closely with first responders and fire officials. Today’s unusually strong winds, very dry vegetation, and low humidity were more typical of early summer than April, created a significant risk of wildfire igniting and spreading rapidly.
- Field crews assessed miles of power lines utilizing trucks, drones and UTVs in rough terrain to inspect for damage before re-energizing.
While power has been restored, we strongly encourage customers to stay prepared with an emergency plan and supplies, register for alerts from their local emergency management office and stay connected to alerts from APS by making sure their contact information is up to date. Customers can update their contact information by contacting the APS Customer Care Center at 602-371-7171 or 800-253-9405 or online by signing into aps.com.
Why did APS call a PSPS today?
The decision to call a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is not one we take lightly. APS will only initiate a PSPS when extreme fire risk conditions are present. We use data to guide our decision-making and carefully consider a number of factors before taking that step.
What factors does APS consider when determining whether to initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff?
APS considers several factors, including severe fire risk conditions such as wind speed, wind gusts, humidity levels, available fuels and terrain, all of which influence the potential for a wildfire to start and how quickly it could spread. We also rely on ongoing assessments from APS’s Fire Mitigation Team, specialists and meteorologists, along with real-time assessments and forecasting using advanced fire modeling software.
What made today’s conditions especially concerning?
What made this situation especially concerning was the convergence of multiple high-risk factors at the same time. We saw unusually strong winds, very dry vegetation, and low humidity more typical of early summer rather than April. Together, those conditions significantly increase the potential for a wildfire to ignite and spread rapidly.
How did APS choose those communities?
The areas included in the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) were identified based on the specific power lines and electrical equipment facing the highest wildfire risk under the forecasted conditions. That includes factors such as extreme wind, humidity, vegetation, terrain, and how likely a fire could start and rapidly spread in those areas. Our goal is to keep any shutoff as targeted and limited as possible while helping reduce the risk of wildfire.
Could APS have given more notice that a PSPS was likely?
These decisions are driven by rapidly changing weather and wildfire risk conditions. In this case, the forecast worsened significantly in a short period of time, and APS provided notice as soon as we had enough confidence in the conditions to make that decision responsibly. We strive to provide as much advance notice as possible, and when conditions escalate quickly, safety has to come first.
How can people who depend on electricity for life-saving medical equipment prepare?
We understand a disruption in service can be especially serious for customers who depend on electricity for medical needs. Our Medical Care Program provides additional notifications for customers and connects them with services to support their needs. If you or someone in your household uses critical medical equipment that requires electricity, you may qualify for our Medical Care Program. Simply download and complete the application on aps.com and mail it to APS with a signature from your licensed medical professional.
Learn more about APS’s year-round efforts to maintain a safe and reliable electric system and Public Safety Power Shutoffs at aps.com/psps.
APS serves approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW).
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