As both a member of Mountain View Electric Association and your CEO, I know many of you have noticed an increase in power outages and longer restoration times recently. I have as well. For those who have reached out with questions or frustrations, I want you to know that we hear you.
When the power goes out, our Board of Directors, our employees, and our leadership team experience it alongside you in our own homes. We deeply understand the inconvenience that comes with an unexpected outage. That’s why I want to be transparent about why you’re seeing these changes, and how they connect to a challenge every Coloradan is facing: escalating wildfire risk.
Our state has changed. We have all witnessed the devastating impact of longer fire seasons, drier conditions, and historic winds across Colorado. Continued growth along the wildland-urban interface has heightened the risk of catastrophic wildfires for all of us. As these risks evolve, so must the way we operate our electric system. While reliability remains at the core of what we do, safety is our ultimate priority. When it comes to wildfire mitigation, safety must guide every operational decision.
During Red Flag Warnings and periods of extreme fire danger, MVEA operates portions of our system in “one-shot” mode as an added safety precaution. Under normal conditions, power lines can automatically attempt to restore service after a temporary fault, like a tree branch brushing a line. During one-shot mode, that automatic re-energization is intentionally disabled. Before power can be restored, our crews must physically inspect every single mile of the affected line to ensure it is completely clear.
While this manual process takes longer, it prevents a power line from re-energizing into a hazard that could spark a fire. It is a deliberate decision to put safety ahead of convenience. Preventing even one wildfire can make an immeasurable difference for the families, businesses, farms, ranches, and communities we proudly serve.
One-shot mode is just one part of MVEA’s broader wildfire mitigation strategy. Throughout the year, our crews patrol lines, clear vegetation, replace aging equipment, and invest in advanced fault-detection technology to catch issues early.
Wildfire mitigation in Colorado now requires proactive preparation and constant vigilance from all of us. As a member-owned cooperative, it also requires us to adapt together as conditions change. While longer outages during extreme fire danger are frustrating, they reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities.
Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your trust as we work together to protect the Colorado landscapes and communities we all call home. Learn more at mvea.coop/wildfire-mitigation.
Ruth Marks is the CEO of Mountain View Electric Association, a electric distribution cooperative based in Falcon, Colorado.
