Fortis working to maintain stable system near Nk'mip wildfire, asking customers to reduce use

Photo: Casey Richardson

Fortis BC is asking customers in Osoyoos and the surrounding area to reduce energy use, due to parts of the grid being de-energized.

Crews are in the area of the Nk'Mip Creek wildfire supporting local emergency services personnel and trying to keep the system stable.

"Fortis had several pieces of critical infrastructure damage," explained RDOS CAO Bill Newell at a media briefing Tuesday. Widespread power outages hit the area Monday evening.

They are asking customers to reduce energy use during peak hours of electricity usage, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Ways to do so include:

• Cooking outdoors on barbecues, if possible
• Washing dishes by hand or setting dishwasher timers to run in the middle of the night
• Running laundry later in the evening
• Reduce air conditioning use