Bonneville cancels planned outage for Libby area

UPDATE, 6:54 p.m.: Flathead Electric Cooperative was informed that the Bonneville Power Administration canceled Thursday's public safety power shutoff affecting the Libby area.

Due to elevated wildfire risk, the Bonneville Power Administration will implement a public safety power shutoff Thursday for a transmission line that supplies energy to the Libby area.

Flathead Electric Cooperative members in the Libby area will experience a temporary power outage beginning at 6 p.m.

Bonneville owns and operates the affected transmission line and made the decision to de-energize it because of elevated wildfire risk and red flag warnings in the area, the co-op said in a press release. Flathead Electric said it does not control the timing of the shutoff or the transmission line’s re-energization.

The shutoff is a preventive measure that may be used during periods of extreme wildfire risk. Electricity is temporarily turned off to reduce the possibility that energized equipment could ignite a wildfire, particularly when hot, dry and windy conditions are present, the co-op said.

Power was expected to remain off until conditions improve and Bonneville determines the transmission line can be safely re-energized.

Members in the Libby area should prepare for an outage by charging essential devices, planning for medical or accessibility needs, and making other necessary outage preparations.