US Utilities Take Precautions Amid Rising Fire Risk, Cut Power to Prevent Blazes

Utilities in the US West are taking drastic measures to prevent fires by shutting off power in areas with high fire risk. Xcel Energy in Colorado ordered multiple rounds of preventative power cuts for over 50,000 customers, and similar measures were taken in Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming. The shutoffs are unpopular but necessary to prevent utility equipment from sparking a potentially ruinous blaze. Utilities are relying on weather scientists to decide where and when to cut power, and some are exploring interventions like burying lines underground to reduce fire risk.