Public Safety Power Shutoff

If your home or business will be impacted by a Public Service Power Shutoff, you will hear from NorthWestern Energy a number of times throughout the process. NorthWestern Energy is committed to providing as much advance notice as reasonably possible to help you prepare for a PSPS event. 

• Monitoring - As fire danger increases, NorthWestern Energy will closely monitor the situation and assess the need for a Public Safety Power Shutoff. As soon as we enter the "PSPS monitoring" phase, our website will be updated with information, and we will reach out to local public safety partners, such as police, sheriff and fire departments.
• Watch - When we reach the stage of "PSPS watch," customers who may be impacted will receive an automated call, text or email from NorthWestern. We will continue to update our website and reach out to media organizations and community leaders. We are 2-3 days before the shutoff when in a Watch phase.
• Warning – In the Warning stage, we are still 1-2 days before the shutoff event. Customers who may be affected will receive automated calls, texts or emails. Community members, media and stakeholders will be notified as well.
• Alert - If a PSPS becomes imminent, we advance to the "PSPS alert" stage. At this point, customers will be contacted again via a call, text or email campaign. Community members, media and stakeholders will be notified as well. Power is scheduled to be shutoff within a few hours when Alerts are issued.
• Shutoff In-Effect - When we de-energize our power lines, we will continue to update our website as we monitor the situation.
• Restoration – We will continue to notify customers when we are working to restore power. Restoring power can take time due to repairs, access or visibility of the infrastructure.
• Closeout - When we restore power, impacted customers will receive another automated call, text or email to let them know power has been restored.