The Public Utility Commission of Texas recently announced a new standardized blueprint and guidelines for electric utilities to use when preparing wildfire mitigation plans.
Wildfire mitigation plans (WMP) are required under PUCT Rule §25.60 to protect consumers, electric reliability, and critical electric equipment from wildfire risk and damage.
“Utilities now have a clear starting point and guidelines for organizing WMPs that put public safety and electric reliability first and are clear and transparent for PUCT and public review,” PUCT Executive Director Connie Corona said. “Texans deserve to feel confident that utilities are planning ahead and clearly outlining steps they are taking to reduce wildfire threats against homes, businesses, and reliable electric service.”
Each electric utility, including municipally-owned utilities and electric cooperatives, must submit a wildfire mitigation plan that meets the standards outlined in §25.60, tailored to its own service territory, equipment, and wildfire risk.
The new blueprint and guidelines give utilities a common framework for organizing a WMP, outlining wildfire risks, and explaining how the utility will address them. These tools do not replace utility-specific planning, and utilities are not required to use the pro-forma blueprint when preparing a WMP.
WMPs are expected to address topics including:
- Areas of elevated wildfire risk within a utility’s service territory, including Texas Division of Emergency Management designated wildfire risk areas
- Inspection of poles, lines, and other electric equipment
- Vegetation management in wildfire risk areas
- Utility operating plans during high-risk weather conditions
- Emergency coordination and communication during wildfire events.
