New requirements? Under proposed rules from the Colorado PUC, Black Hills Energy and the Public Service Company of Colorado would have to file wildfire mitigation and public safety power shutoff plans every three years. Why? This would help the state 1) Assess the risks of wildfires sparking from utility equipment 2) ensure prevention efforts are effective and 3) communicate progress with the public.
The background: These two orgs have already voluntarily rolled out WMPs. PSCo has filed plans with the state since 2020, and Black Hills last updated its plan in June (but hasn’t submitted it directly to the commission). Now, these new rules would create uniform requirements for the IOUs—and Colorado would join the nine states that order utilities to file these plans.
Meanwhile, in Texas: Last year, the Lone Star State began requiring utilities to hand wildfire mitigation plans to the PUC. But, with just three months remaining until the deadline, only eight out of 161 utilities have done their homework. 😬
Sun, Oct 4
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
NEWS: Colorado officials want to require utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans.
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