PRESS RELEASE
MEEKER | Due to high-risk weather conditions throughout the western slope of Colorado and with fire season in full swing, White River Electric Association (WREA) has set its entire system into Fire Protection Mode. This special mode consists of an alternate relay setting which causes the system to de-energize the instant that it senses a fault- such as a branch or tree in the line.
For WREA consumers, it means that more frequent or prolonged power outages are likely to occur. Since Fire Protection Mode doesn’t allow electrical equipment to self-start, consumers will experience outages (instead of blinks) until WREA line crews can be dispatched to clear the fault and/or determine the line to be safe.
“It’s a conservative approach, but it’s the right approach- at least for now,” said WREA General Manager, Alan Michalewicz. “Outages are inconvenient for our members, and can mean long hours for our lineman, but we need to do everything we can to help prevent a wildfire and keep our community safe.”
Members are encouraged to call the 24-hour dispatch number (970-878-5041) to report power outages immediately.