Core Sector: Critical Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

Wildfires in the Electric Utility Sector: Guidance for Utility Regulators

Wildfires present a significant risk to critical infrastructure, endangering energy systems by damaging transmission lines and imposing a variety of costs on utilities and their customers. Wildfires have increased nationally in both extent and intensity as vegetation conditions become drier and wind patterns become more turbulent. Aging infrastructure may also cause transmission lines to ignite vegetation. For questions regarding NARUC CPI’s wildfire initiative, contact Jody Raines.

Current Project: A Wildfires Steering Group has been seated to guide the development of the wildfire workbook entitled Guidance for Utility Regulators: Managing Wildfire Risk in the Electric Utility Sector. This workbook will provide state regulators with strategic approaches to oversee electric utilities in wildfire prevention, mitigation, response, and cost recovery, balancing safety, reliability, and affordability.

Table 1: Resource Library Sections

 

Section

1

 Regulators' Roundtables

2

Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning

3

Infrastructure Hardening and Vegetation Management

4

 Communication and Community Engagement

5

Wildfire Response and Coordination

6

Cost Recovery Mechanisms

7

Financial Risk Mitigation

8

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
9

Additional Resources

10

Links, Templates, Tools

Section 1 – Regulators' Roundtables

Working with State Regulators and subject matter experts, during 2024 NARUC held a series of Regulatory Roundtable on the issues related to Wildfires and utilities.

Section 2 – Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning

This section will discuss various risk assessment tools and mitigation efforts in practice. Case studies and questions for regulators to ask utilities to determine maturity will be included.

Section 3 – Infrastructure Hardening and Vegetation Management

Guides for infrastructure hardening, including investments and cost benefit propositions as well as vegetation management guidance with case studies. 

Section 4 – Communications and Community Engagement

Keeping the community informed, protection for medically dependent and vulnerable population, PSPS communications template.  

Section 5 – Wildfire Response and Coordination

Incident Command protocol, mutual aid, memorandums of understanding, multi-agency approaches, exercises and drills. 

Section 6 – Cost Recovery Mechanisms

Review of recovery mechanisms and regulatory decision making for investments and offsets for wildfire mitigation.

Section 7 – Financial Risk Mitigation

Discussion of investment and insurance environment with insights into current wildfire related trends. 

Section 8 – Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

Section 9 – Additional Resources

Section 10 – Links, Templates, Tools

This section will continue to evolve as additional materials are discovered. 

Be sure to listen to Tech Talk for Regulators, episode 3 Wildfire Technology and episode 4 California's Unique Agency Relationship for Wildfire Mitigation

  • Episode Four: Utility Wildfire Mitigation Regulations - California CPUC and OEIS, May 2025
    Featuring Commissioner Darcie Houck of the California Public Utility Commission and Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs of the CA Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety discussion the unique roles their agencies play with regard to mitigating utility wildfires in their state. This conversation explores the roles and responsibilities of the California Public Utilities Commission and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety in regulating utilities and ensuring wildfire safety. The discussion highlights the importance of incentivizing investments in energy infrastructure to mitigate wildfire risks and improve overall safety.

  • Episode Three: Wildfire Technology, April 2025
    Wildfires present a significant risk to critical infrastructure, endangering energy systems by damaging transmission lines and imposing a variety of costs on utilities and their customers. Wildfires have increased nationally in both extent and intensity as vegetation conditions become drier and wind patterns become more turbulent. Aging infrastructure may also cause transmission lines to ignite vegetation. For questions regarding NARUC CPI’s wildfire initiative, contact Jody Raines at jraines@naruc.org.