A growing number of utilities across the fire-prone U.S. West are preemptively cutting off electricity, angering customers and officials even as they aim to reduce wildfire risks.
Proactive power shutoffs run counter to power companies' main mission of keeping electricity flowing, highlighting the difficult balance utilities face between safety and service.
Utilities fear legal repercussions from not implementing power shutoff programs, as lawsuits and collective damages from wildfires increase significantly due to reckless negligence concerns.
The intentional blackouts, sometimes lasting days, are part of utilities' strategies to mitigate fire risks amid escalating droughts and heatwaves affecting service areas.
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