§ 37-3-403 — Electric utilities; wildfire mitigation plans; contents

Wyoming § 37-3-403

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 37: Public Utilities
• Ch. 3: RATES, INTERCHANGE OF SERVICES AND SAFETY
• Art. 4: WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Text

(a) Each electric utility shall prepare a wildfire
mitigation plan that shall include, at a minimum:
(i) A description of the electric utility's service
territory and the areas within the service territory or rights-
of-way that may be subject to a heightened risk of wildfire;
(ii) A description of the procedures, standards and
schedules that the electric utility will use to inspect and
operate its transmission and distribution infrastructure, if
any;
(iii) A description of the procedures and standards
that the electric utility will use to perform vegetation
management;
(iv) A description of proposed modifications,
replacements and upgrades to facilities and preventative
programs that the electric utility will implement to reduce the
risk of its electric facilities initiating a wildfire;
(v) A description of how the electric utility's
wildfire mitigation strategies and policies have changed in the
immediately preceding five (5) years;
(vi) A description of how the electric utility will
coordinate with other electric utilities regarding any shared
facilities;
(vii) A description of procedures and considerations
for de-energizing power lines and disabling reclosers to
mitigate potential fires, including:
(A) The ability of the electric utility to
reasonably access the proposed power line to be de-energized;
(B) Balancing the risk of wildfire with the need
for the continued supply of electricity to a community;
(C) Any potential impact that de-energizing
lines may have on the resilience of the remainder of the
electric utility's transmission and distribution facilities, if
any;
(D) The need to provide notice to customers and
the public before or as soon as practicable after de-
energization;
(E) Any need to communicate and coordinate with
any other electric utilities that may be impacted by a de-
energization and any plans to accomplish communications,
including communications with transmission operators,
reliability coordinators and cooperative member systems;
(F) Anticipated potential impacts to public
safety.
(viii) A description of the procedures the electric
utility intends to use to restore its electrical system in the
event of a wildfire;
(ix) For electric utilities whose rates are regulated
by the commission, a description of the estimated incremental
costs and potential associated rate impacts for the
implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan, including system
improvements and upgrades;
(x) A description of community outreach and public
awareness efforts before and during the wildfire season,
particularly in areas impacted by wildfires or de-energizations;
(xi) A description of potential participation with
emergency coordinators, if applicable;
(xii) Input from the Wyoming state forestry division
of the office of state lands and investments, an association
representing Wyoming rural firefighters, counties and any other
appropriate federal, state or local fire entity.
(b) Not later than five (5) business days after a fire
mitigation plan is submitted to the public service commission
for approval under W.S. 37-3-404(a), the electric utility shall
provide direct notice that a wildfire mitigation plan has been
filed with the public service commission to all conservation
districts, municipalities and counties in the electric utility's
Wyoming service territories.