Public Safety Power Shutoff Update for Liberty Customers

September 12, 2026, 7:45 a.m. update:

In light of improved weather conditions, the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is no longer planned for Liberty customers.  At this time, we do not anticipate the need to proactively shut off power to any part of our service area. Protecting the safety of our customers and the community is our top priority, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation. Liberty will continue to monitor the situation.

September 11, 2026, 4:00 p.m. update:

In light of improved fire weather conditions, the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) has been canceled for Liberty customers in the Verdi (CA) and Floriston communities. Liberty will continue to monitor the situation. Protecting the safety of our customers and the community is our top priority, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.

However, due to extreme weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfire, we continue to monitor for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for THESE AREAS Markleeville, Woodfords, Desolation Hotel (Hope Valley), Topaz, Coleville, and Walker customers on Saturday, September 12 at or around 10:00 a.m. Based on recent weather reports, a PSPS is less likely but still possible. If a PSPS is determined to be necessary, the estimated time of restoration is Sunday, September 13 at 9:00 a.m.

Customers are encouraged to visit our Community Resource Centers from 8am-10pm throughout the duration of the event, starting at 8:00am on Saturday, at:

• The Woodfords Community Center, 96 Washoe Blvd, Markleeville, CA
• The Walker Community Center, 442 Mule Deer Drive, Walker, CA

When CRCs are closed, you can use the outage map to identify energized areas for power.

September 9, 2026 update:

Liberty may implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for THESE AREAS Verdi (CA), Floriston, Markleeville, Woodfords, Desolation Hotel (Hope Valley), Topaz, Coleville, and Walker area customers due to extreme weather conditions that increase the risk of a potential wildfire on or about Saturday, September 12, 2026, at about 9 a.m. The estimated time of restoration is Sunday, September 13 at about 9:00 a.m.

Customers are encouraged to visit our Community Resource Centers from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. throughout the duration of the event, starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the:

• Woodfords Community Center, 96 Washoe Blvd, Markleeville, CA
• Walker Community Center, 442 Mule Deer Drive, Walker, CA
• Truckee Tahoe Airport, 10356 Truckee Airport Rd, Truckee, CA

When CRCs are closed, you can use the outage map to identify energized areas for power.

What Do I Need to Know?

• Power is expected to be shut off on or about Saturday, September 12, 2026, at about 10 a.m. The estimated time of restoration is Sunday, September 13 at about 9:00 a.m.
• Predicted weather conditions warrant a PSPS forecasted for the aforementioned areas, date, and time.
• Approximately 1,663 customers will be impacted.
• Public safety partners were contacted on Wednesday, September 9 and made aware of medically sensitive customers who will be impacted by the PSPS.
• Community Resource Centers (CRC) are being activated. The CRCs will remain open during the event between the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the de-energization event to provide customers with resources.
• Customers who require power to operate life-essential medical equipment are strongly encouraged to visit our Community Resource Centers from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. at the:
  • Woodfords Community Center, 96 Washoe Blvd, Markleeville, CA
  • Walker Community Center, 442 Mule Deer Drive, Walker, CA
  • Truckee Tahoe Airport, 10356 Truckee Airport Rd, Truckee, CA
• When CRCs are closed, you can use the outage map to identify energized areas for power.
• For additional information and real-time updates, please follow us on Facebook (@LibertyUtilitiesLT) and X (@LibertyUtil_CA) 

View Areas Impacted by the PSPS HERE

When Will Power Be Restored?

Liberty will begin the process to restore power when weather conditions retreat below the aforementioned safety thresholds. The restoration process includes conducting safety inspections on power lines and electric infrastructure throughout the impacted communities, an essential action that must be completed prior to lifting the PSPS and restoring power. The power shutoff could last more than 24 hours. Thank you for your patience. We will provide additional updates as they become available.

About Public Safety Power Shutoffs

A public safety power shutoff (PSPS) is a safety procedure utilized by electric utilities to proactively turn off power when and where weather conditions create a high wildfire risk. The practice of de-energization, which is becoming more and more frequent, is supported by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as a safety best practice.

In partnership with fire weather experts, Liberty monitors real-time weather data and forecasts and regularly tests fuel moisture during the fire season. If it is determined that the forecasted conditions meet or exceed safety thresholds, Liberty will initiate a PSPS.

In the event that a PSPS is a possibility, Liberty will attempt to contact customers through calls, texts, and emails using contact information on file. Customers should keep their contact information up-to-date and follow Liberty on Facebook and Twitter to receive timely PSPS updates.

Conditions Monitored

Liberty monitors weather, vegetation, fire conditions, and the electric system to understand wildfire risk. This information is used to calculate the Composite Risk Index (CRI).  

The CRI uses forecast wind gusts to estimate the potential of a power line starting a fire and flame length, which is then used to evaluate how severe that fire could become. When wildfire risk is high, Liberty may take extra safety steps, such as implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff, to help protect the public. 

What Other Wildfire Mitigation Efforts Does Liberty Have in Place to Protect Our Community?

Catastrophic wildfires have become all too common in California. Due to the dense vegetation and dry brush that characterize much of our landscape, the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding forested areas have been designated either "High" or "Very High" Fire Hazard Severity Zones by CAL FIRE.

Liberty is taking steps to mitigate the risk of wildfires in the communities we serve. Outlined below are the key components of our Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

View Mitigation Plan

Infrastructure Hardening

Infrastructure hardening is an ongoing system infrastructure improvement and replacement process aimed at lowering the potential of fires sparked by electric infrastructure. Over the next several years, Liberty will conduct the following improvements to support this process:

• Install covered conductors
• Replace conventional fuses with limiting fuses
• Test and replace aging poles
• Underground sections of the grid
• Remove tree attachments (electrical infrastructure attached to trees)
• Complete system audit (inspect 100% of all poles and infrastructure in the system)

Vegetation Management

Liberty crews are deployed year-round throughout the region to inspect trees and vegetation in the vicinity of power lines. In compliance with state law and safety best practices, Liberty will trim or remove trees or branches that have grown too close to power lines in order to mitigate wildfire risk.

When trees are identified for trimming, crews are instructed to prune branches and vegetation back to a minimum of 12 feet from the high voltage power lines to maintain adequate clearance over the maintenance cycle period. Crews will additionally identify trees for removal that are dead, diseased, or structurally unsound, despite being within the acceptable clearance zone, if they have the potential to fall on power lines.

Customers should never attempt to conduct the tree trimming activities themselves, due to the risk of coming into contact with power lines during the process.

Liberty offers complimentary tree-trimming services to customers who believe a tree or branch may be hazardous to nearby electric infrastructure. If you spot a tree or branch you feel may be a hazard, please call us at 530-546-1787.