Avista Utilities recently announced it will turn off power in certain areas of Eastern Washington between 1 and 8 p.m. until July 2 to relieve electrical systems and prevent other prolonged outages because of recent heatwaves

Scheduled outages should last no longer than an hour. Some residents may experience more than one outage in a day, according to the Avista Utilities website.

Avista hopes turning off power temporarily will help communities at a higher risk for outages. Pullman is not scheduled for an outage, but it is possible they could eventually experience one, according to an email from the WSU President’s office.  

Although electricity in Pullman may not be affected, the university will take its own measures in limiting the use of power. Measures include cutting back on air conditioner usage, closing the Chinook Student Center and shortening the Compton Union Building’s operational hours, according to the email.

Students and faculty members are encouraged to decide whether they feel comfortable using campus buildings for work or studying during periods without air conditioning, according to the email. 

Avista is urging customers to cut back their electricity use to help limit the number of scheduled power outages.