Residents on Mount Charleston are being asked to brace for the possibility that the power could go out on purpose, not by accident.
NV Energy has warned that its Public Safety Outage Management program, or PSOM, may require proactive shutoffs in the Kyle Canyon and Angel Peak zones. Those PSOM zones were placed on watch Sunday, and the utility said that if fire weather conditions worsen, crews could begin de‑energizing equipment Tuesday afternoon and keep it off into Wednesday morning. People who rely on electrically powered medical devices, small businesses and visitors to the mountain are all being urged to get ready for potential outages.
What a PSOM Watch Means
A PSOM watch means NV Energy is tracking extreme fire weather indicators and may temporarily cut power to prevent utility‑related ignitions. According to NV Energy, the company weighs high winds, low humidity, temperatures, vegetation conditions and field observations, and coordinates with local fire officials, before deciding whether to de‑energize power lines.
When Power Could Be Shut Off
As reported by FOX5 Las Vegas, NV Energy said that if an outage is needed, it would likely begin around 1 p.m. Tuesday and could last until roughly 9 a.m. Wednesday. The station noted that the utility plans to notify impacted customers by phone, text and email, and that Green Cross customers, who rely on life‑support equipment, will receive direct outreach and assistance if a PSOM event is initiated.
How to Prepare
NV Energy recommends customers double‑check that their contact details are current in MyAccount, sign up for outage alerts, fully charge phones and other devices before any potential shutoff and make a plan for refrigerated medicines. The utility also notes it may open Customer Resource Centers during an extended PSOM event to provide water, ice and outage information, and that customers enrolled in the Green Cross program receive additional notifications and support.
Longer-Term Fixes
To reduce the need for PSOM shutoffs over the long haul, NV Energy has proposed microgrid and line‑hardening projects for Kyle Canyon in filings with state regulators. Documents in the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada docket show the utility has studied hybrid microgrid options sized to serve roughly 400 Mount Charleston customers as part of its Natural Disaster Protection Plan.
NV Energy says it is continuing to monitor the weather and will update customers as conditions change. In the meantime, keep phones charged, pay attention to official alerts and check FOX5 Las Vegas for the latest status.
