In November, in response to the ongoing proliferation of wildfires and the ensuing damage to communities, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) announced the publication of an interactive wildfire workbook.

Through its seven chapters, the “Wildfire Workbook: Information for Utility Regulators” addresses topics such as mitigation plans, cost recovery, community engagement, financial tools and insurance impacts.

Each chapter includes extensive links to wildfire plans, statutes, rules, databases, reports and emerging technologies. It is designed to serve as a digital resource that can and will be updated over time as more utilities and states develop plans and investments to address the financial risk of wildfires.

As noted in the foreword to the workbook, the financial risk of catastrophic fire ignited by utility infrastructure (whether a wildland fire, grassland fire, or urban conflagration) affects utilities, their customers and state regulators, not only in the Western United States, but also in other areas of the United States. For example, significant fires in Hawaii, New York, North and South Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, and California have demonstrated that such fires can occur anywhere and under certain conditions, with devastating consequences.

“On behalf of NARUC, I am pleased to recommend this workbook as a resource for state commissioners and staff, as well as state energy offices, policy makers and utilities, both investor-owned and consumer-owned, to rely on when faced with the mitigation measures and costs used to address fire ignited by utility infrastructure,” said NARUC President Ann Rendahl of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. “Wildfires have become a major, significant threat to communities and represent a source of concern for across the utility landscape.”

The workbook was developed over the course of the last year with input from a steering group that included commissioners, staff, utilities, and others representing states and regions across the country. The NARUC Center for Partnerships and Innovation managed the process and facilitated the development of the workbook.

The first chapter (“Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning”) became available on-line in November. Subsequent chapters are scheduled for release on-line in December and January. The first chapter is available at: https://designrr.page/?id=579032&token=1701094940&h=8010.

Dialogues on the topic of wildfires and their impacts on utilities will continue through workshops and NARUC conference sessions. In addition, the workbook will be updated to ensure that it remains a current and useful resource.