Residents on Mount Charleston are being told to brace for a quiet, possibly dark weekend, as NV Energy warns it may shut off power in high-risk areas to lower the chance of wildfire. The utility says its Public Safety Outage Management system could be put into action between 8 a.m. Saturday, June 6, and 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7, with Kyle Canyon and Angel Peak most likely to be affected.
What NV Energy warned
According to KSNV, NV Energy has issued a PSOM warning that covers Kyle Canyon and Angel Peak and says power shutoffs are "highly likely" during the stated time window. The company describes the move as a preventative measure, aimed at reducing the risk that energized lines or windblown debris could trigger a wildfire. Crews will have to inspect lines and equipment before flipping the switch back on.
Why the utility may cut power
The National Weather Service has Red Flag Warnings posted for much of southern Nevada on Saturday, calling for strong southwest winds, gusts up to 40 to 50 mph in mountain areas, and very low humidity. In its alert, the agency explains that a Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either happening or about to happen, and cautions that any new fire could spread quickly under these conditions.
How PSOM works
NV Energy's Public Safety Outage Management program is essentially a controlled power cutoff used when weather and fuel conditions combine to push wildfire risk higher. As outlined by NV Energy, the utility tracks detailed weather data, consults with emergency managers, and can open Customer Resource Centers where people can pick up water, ice, and up-to-date outage information during a PSOM event.
Microgrid and local response
Local coverage reports that NV Energy plans to rely on a microgrid to keep as many Kyle Canyon customers powered as possible even if a broader shutoff is ordered, though officials warn that microgrid support will depend on how conditions evolve. KTNV also noted that U.S. Forest Service personnel and fire crews were already visible on the mountain as officials urged both residents and visitors to be especially careful with any activity that could spark a blaze.
How to prepare
NV Energy is urging customers to get their contact information up to date, sign up for outage alerts, and enroll in the Green Cross program if anyone in the household depends on electrically powered medical equipment. Residents are being told to charge phones and other devices, stash emergency water and necessary medications, and think ahead about how to handle refrigerated food and critical supplies while crews carry out the manual inspections needed before restoring service. For more detailed preparation tips and PSOM zone maps, customers can check NV Energy.
A familiar precaution
This is not the first time Mount Charleston has been asked to trade convenience for caution. Planned shutoffs have become a recurring tool on the mountain during bouts of strong wind and low humidity. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has previously detailed similar PSOM warnings and outages in the area, highlighting just how often these high-risk fire weather patterns return.
Where to get updates
For the latest on whether the lights will actually go out, residents can follow local coverage from KSNV and keep an eye on any forecast changes from the National Weather Service that could affect the PSOM call. NV Energy typically reaches out directly to customers in PSOM zones by phone, text, or email, and posts outage maps and detailed information for affected neighborhoods.
