Black Hills Energy Declares Emergency Public Power Shutoff Watch

Due to a high fire danger, Black Hills Energy has declared an emergency Public Safety power Shutoff Watch for customers in the Harriman and Curt Gowdy areas west of Cheyenne.

The watch took effect at 8:30 this morning [June 29, 2026].

In the words of a news release from Black Hills Energy:

This means that If conditions persist, the company may need to temporarily shut off power to approximately 350 customers in these areas mid-day Monday to mitigate the risk of electrical infrastructure becoming a source of wildfire ignition. Customers under the PSPS Watch declaration are urged to prepare for the possibility of emergency power outages needed to protect public safety and prevent wildfire. 

“The safety of our customers, employees and communities is our highest priority,” said Wes Ashton, vice president of South Dakota and Wyoming Utilities. “Our Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff program, or PSPS, is a critical tool for wildfire prevention and used as a last resort measure to protect lives and property and will only be activated in areas with elevated wildfire risk"

Ashton goes on to say

“We recognize that shutting off power, even to reduce wildfire risks, has broad impacts,” said Ashton. “We will do our best to provide as much advance notice as possible if an emergency power shutoff is likely to occur, by issuing a PSPS Warning. If conditions suddenly become hazardous, power may need to be shut off with little or no notice.”

Red Flag Fire Warning Issued For SE Wyoming

Meanwhile, the Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire danger, starting at 10 a.m. on Monday: