As wildfire seasons intensify across Alberta, major electricity providers are taking a dramatic new step to protect communities: strategically shutting off power before disasters strike.
AltaLink and FortisAlberta have expanded their Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) programs across the Bow Valley, a move that caught Canmore town council off guard when utilities presented the initiative this month.
"That was the first time I heard about it. And I think the very first words out of my mouth was, 'Wow, that sparks a lot of questions,'" said Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert, highlighting resident and business concerns about planned outages during peak tourism season.
When Power Goes Dark
The PSPS strategy is straightforward but significant: utilities will intentionally cut electricity during extreme weather conditions that could turn power lines into wildfire ignition sources. The decision hinges on multiple factors, including wind speed, humidity levels, vegetation dryness, and official wildfire danger ratings.
"It is not a decision we take lightly," explained AltaLink vice-president of operations Evan Mitchell. "We need to see conditions where, if a spark were to start, there is a risk it could produce a catastrophic wildfire."
Residents would receive advance notice—potentially days in advance—giving households and businesses time to prepare for blackouts that could last several hours.
Why Utilities Are Acting Now
The numbers tell a sobering story. Utilities attribute approximately 10 per cent of Alberta's wildfires to power infrastructure. In 2025 alone, nearly 674,000 hectares burned across the province—more than double the annual average from 2015 to 2022.
"In 2020 and 2021, we started to see more wildfires throughout Alberta and western North America," said FortisAlberta vice-president of operations Jon Zawada. "The longer, drier fire season really caused utilities to pause and look at these measures."
A Program Already in Motion
AltaLink launched its PSPS program in Banff in 2019, expanding to Canmore in 2024. FortisAlberta introduced the program to the Bow Valley in 2025. The initiative isn't theoretical—AltaLink already performed its first planned outage on May 3 in the Municipal District of Provost, restoring power after several hours without incident.
The expansion reflects a fundamental shift in how Alberta's utilities approach wildfire prevention: from reactive response to proactive protection. Whether residents and businesses embrace the strategy during tourism-heavy seasons remains to be seen, but utilities insist the alternative—catastrophic wildfires sparked by power lines—is far worse.
This article is based on reporting by CBC Calgary.