10.A.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 03/17/2026
- Co-Submitter:
- Daniel Kelly
- From:
- Stacey Brechler-Knaggs, Grants, Contracts & Emergency Management Director
TITLE
Emergency Management Briefing - APS Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Discussion with the Mayor and Council on how Arizona Public Service (APS) PSPS events will work and the impact they will have on the city.
Executive Summary:
Three years ago, APS rolled out its Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) for certain power lines deemed high-risk for causing wildfires. APS believes this will help reduce the risk that transmission lines will cause a wildfire, such as during a high-wind event on a red flag day. City Emergency Management has been working closely with APS and other key city partners to assess the potential impact of PSPS events and develop a plan to mitigate them.
For the upcoming fire season, APS has followed suit with the past three years and has significantly increased the number of transmission lines in and around Flagstaff that they feel fall under their high-risk classification. As a result of this increase, this year's PSPS events will significantly affect power supply not only to critical city facilities but also to residential areas. One of the most impacted critical infrastructures is the city’s water infrastructure. In this briefing, members of the PSPS Task Force will provide an overview of the expected impacts and the measures city staff will take to minimize them.
For the upcoming fire season, APS has followed suit with the past three years and has significantly increased the number of transmission lines in and around Flagstaff that they feel fall under their high-risk classification. As a result of this increase, this year's PSPS events will significantly affect power supply not only to critical city facilities but also to residential areas. One of the most impacted critical infrastructures is the city’s water infrastructure. In this briefing, members of the PSPS Task Force will provide an overview of the expected impacts and the measures city staff will take to minimize them.
Information:
The City PSPS Task Force has met and will continue to meet to discuss potential impacts, mitigate what we can, and review response procedures if notified of a public safety power shut-off.