SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – In recent weeks, four power outages in the South Lake Tahoe area have affected the same neighborhoods as shown in the photo above.

Underground electrical infrastructure issues caused all but one of these outages, according to Liberty Utilities. The other was a line going into fire mode. While these incidents were unrelated, they impacted the same circuit and therefore the same customers.

The reasons for the prolonged outages are multifaceted, and each situation had unique characteristics. However, the following explanations regarding restoration time apply to each of these recent outages.

Underground. When a fault is underground, as was the case in the three most recent outages, locating the issue is more difficult because it is not visible. Once the fault area is identified, operators must excavate the area where the problem is located in order to work. After the problem area is exposed, crews then identify what caused the outage and determine necessary parts, cable, and/or other equipment, which are transported from a Liberty warehouse to the site before work can begin. Underground repairs are typically the most time-consuming and often take a minimum of six hours to identify, access, evaluate, and acquire what is needed to resolve the issue.

Fire Mode. Fire mode is an electrical system setting implemented during dry months, typically May through November, or until the first significant snowfall. During fire mode, when the system senses a fault, the circuit is immediately locked out to reduce the risk of igniting a fire. When a circuit or line is locked out, crews must physically patrol the line for any hazards before they can test and re-energize it, which may take hours.

Liberty has been proactive in maintaining its infrastructure to reduce unplanned power outages. When outages occur, Liberty communicates directly with affected customers via text, email, and voice messages, so it is important that customers keep their contact information up-to-date on their accounts. Liberty will provide outage updates on social media to help keep customers informed, according to

Customers are encouraged to update their contact information by calling 1-800-782-2506 or by visiting Liberty’s website: https://california.libertyutilities.com/south-lake-tahoe/residential/my-account/my-bill/my-profile.html