The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have opened applications for Phase 2 of the Wildfire Insights and Support for Electric (WISE) Utilities program.
The program addresses foundational challenges and barriers that utilities face in starting or enhancing their wildfire mitigation programs, DOE said.
“A wildfire can spread in minutes, but protecting a community starts long before the first flame,” said Katie Jereza, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity. “We're giving utilities the tools and expertise to spot vulnerabilities, take action before disaster strikes, and reduce the risk of costly power disruptions. That's how we turn preparation into stronger, safer communities.”
OE and PNNL pioneered the multi-year technical assistance program to provide electric utilities with no-cost data-driven tools and analytics for reducing risk and enhancing resilience against growing wildfire threats, DOE said.
Phase 2 of WISE will support utilities across the wildfire management lifecycle, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
“Many utilities are struggling to keep pace with the shifting wildfire paradigm of their respective regions,” said Dr. André Coleman, who leads the WISE program at PNNL. “This program offers much needed federal support for resource-constrained utilities to understand and address their localized risks.”
Applications for Phase 2 of WISE close Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
Phase 2 assistance for selected utilities is set to begin in January 2027, following WISE engagement assistance with the Phase 1 cohort of eight utilities, including rural cooperatives, public utility districts, and municipalities.
For more information, please visit https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/wildfire-risk-resilience/technical-assistance-and-support-utilities or email wildfire@pnnl.gov.
APPA Wildfire Resources
The American Public Power Association has curated a collection of resources to assist utilities in crafting their wildfire mitigation plans.
Accessing these tools, expertise, and strategies can help utilities develop a robust wildfire mitigation plan to effectively address wildfire risks and protect their communities from the devastating effects of wildfires.
