UPDATE (Aug. 21, 2023) - As of Aug. 21, 2023 Grand Valley Power is operating normally. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are currently in effect for Mesa County. 

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - (July 24, 2023) Due to high temperatures and dry conditions, Grand Valley Power is operating in fire prevention mode effective immediately. Fire Prevention Mode reduces the risk of wildfire occurring from cooperative power lines or equipment. The extra precautions mean that our lines will trip sooner, and our linemen will do extra patrols to minimize the chance that a spark from power lines could start a fire. As a result, outages could last longer.

“You may experience longer outages due to this mode, but safety to the general public is our top priority," said Bill Barlow, GVP's Operations Manager. "Thank you for your understanding while we mitigate this risk during the hot summer months. ”

While we work to ensure power is safely restored, it’s important for our members to know that we also rely on them for information. Please report any issues or problems you may see or hear. This information can help us to more quickly pinpoint the causes of outages. You can report this through SmartHub or by calling us at (970) 242-0040.

You'll find resources on outage preparation and food safety on our Outage Center.

Ongoing Preventive Measures

• Every year, we trim thousands of trees and clear vegetation. Tree trimming arborists and right-of-way contractors work to maintain 10-15 feet of clearance around power lines. Maintenance also includes frequent clearing and spray around transmission and distribution poles and around our substations.
• In our more forested and high vegetation areas, we reconfigure protective equipment to shut down power lines on the first sign of an electrical fault. The line won’t be reenergized until it is inspected and manually reset.
• On portions of overhead power lines, GVP uses non-expulsion fuses to both protect the system and mitigate the potential for fire. Non-expulsion fuses are designed to contain arc energy and not emit molten particles.

Improvements “Harden the System” in Higher Risk Areas

• We have replaced older lines with new lines of larger materials and increased conductor spacing.  
• We have installed new equipment, including fault indicators, that will blink and identify overcurrent or problem areas. 
• We increase routine line patrol and perform routine maintenance to avoid equipment failure.
• We install additional protective equipment on lines to quickly isolate a line that is damaged.
• We evaluate transformer loading and replace overloaded transformers.
• Added a third tree trimming and arborist crew to further conduct vegetation management efforts. 

Take Precautions to Protect Your Property

• While we clear vegetation in the rights-of-way, please take precautions to protect yourself and your property.
• To reduce the risk, consider the fire resistance of your home and the nature of the vegetation close by.
• Create a "Defensible Space" surrounding your home through landscaping, keeping growth at least 30 feet from structures.
• Visit Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition or our Wildfire Safety page for tips on keeping your home, your family and your community safe from wildfires.

Grand Valley Power will resume normal operations once conditions improve and fire risk is no longer high. Outage information is available on our Outage Center. We update Twitter and Facebook about outages that last longer than one hour or impact more than 100 members.