Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do to prepare for wildfire season?

There are many things you can do to help your family stay safe. First, create a defensible space around your home, clear of dead vegetation or trash. Prepare an emergency kit that you can grab and take with you in case you need to evacuate. Talk with your family to develop a family plan, including where you will meet up if you are separated. Finally, sign up for outage alerts at AEPTexas.com/alerts so you can receive updates in case a wildfire affects your electric service.

What factors determine elevated wildfire risk?

Dry weather, strong winds, types and conditions of local vegetation and numerous other factors can influence how likely it is a wildfire could ignite or spread.

What are conservative operations?

Conservative operations help us keep power on while reducing the risk that electrical equipment could create sparks. We do so by disabling our system’s ability to automatically turn power back on after a brief disruption. If an outage occurs while an area is under conservative operations, a thorough safety assessment is necessary before we restore power.

What is emergency de-energization?

Emergency de-energization occurs during an active wildfire that creates unsafe conditions for normal operations. During emergency de-energization, power is shut off to protect first responders and the public.

What is PSPS?

A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a planned, proactive de-energization prior to an ignition event. Our goal is always to keep the power flowing, but our obligation is to operate our system safely. During extreme fire weather conditions, we may need to turn off power to a targeted high-risk area lessen the chance our equipment could start a deadly fire. This is a tool of last resort. In addition, outages during severe conditions may result from other causes such as weather impacts, vehicle incidents, acute fire damage or emergency response activities, and are not necessarily the result of a PSPS event.

Will other services be turned off?

Local water systems may be affected by power outages, including potential impacts to electrically powered pumps used for water supply and firefighting.

Cell phone and internet services may go down during extended power outages due to backup power constraints at telecommunications facilities.

AEP Texas coordinates with local utilities and emergency management partners, including fire departments, to support awareness of system dependencies and preparedness measures in advance of high-risk conditions.

How does AEP Texas decide whose power to turn off?

We never want to turn off the power. Sometimes it is necessary to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure. We do not turn off power to specific customers. Instead, we de-energize equipment where normal operations would be unsafe. The number of residents and businesses affected, the size of the de-energized area and the duration of the outage will depend on the severity of the fire threat, local conditions and the layout of the electrical grid. We will always attempt to safely isolate the smallest area possible to minimize the disruption of electricity service to our customers.

How will you communicate with customers?

Throughout the year, you can find helpful resources at AEPTexas.com and on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook and X.

Notifying affected customers before implementing emergency wildfire-related operational changes may not always be possible, but as new information becomes available during a service disruption, updates will appear on our outage map.

At least 48 hours before a PSPS event, we will post information about the forecasted fire potential, prudent actions, potential scope and anticipating timing at AEPTexas.com, and on Facebook and X. We will continue to update these channels as confidence increases or information changes.

In the 1-3 days before a PSPS event, we will attempt to directly notify all customers likely to be affected by the event via email, phone or text message, with special focus on contacting Critical Load Customers and medically sensitive Critical Care Customers on file.

During service interruptions for any reason, outage alerts can help you stay informed and up to date. Sign up for alerts here. Also, during an outage, please check AEPTexas.com for updates and restoration estimates.

I rely on electricity because of a serious medical condition. What should I do?

If loss of power could result in serious impairment or life-threatening circumstances for a member of your household, please ensure an active Critical Care Form is on file.

How long will shutoffs last?

Emergency de-energizations and PSPS events will last until it is safe to restore power. We will work closely with local first responders and emergency management teams to safely coordinate necessary assessments and repairs, then re-energize only when conditions are safe. During outages, look for updates at AEPTexas.com.

What is AEP Texas doing to prevent wildfire-related outages and shutoffs?

Our vegetation management practices, grid hardening, public education efforts and collaborative planning with emergency management teams each play a role in reducing the potential for wildfires.

Can I claim personal or business losses if I’m affected by a wildfire-related outage?

We are not typically liable for personal or business losses caused by service interruptions. If you wish to file an individual claim, please visit aepclaims.com to provide documentation. If you wish to file a business claim, please call (800) 277-2177.

I manage a critical load facility. How can I work with AEP Texas to prepare for emergencies?

We work closely with water purveyors, 911 dispatch centers, hospitals, schools and other critical facilities before and during wildfires to ensure coordinated plans are in place. If you manage a critical load facility, please send a completed Critical Load Application Form to CriticalLoadAEPTX@aep.com.