ORS 757.963: Public utility required to develop wildfire protection plan; rules.

(1) A public utility that provides electricity must have and operate in compliance with a risk-based wildfire protection plan that is filed with the Public Utility Commission and has been evaluated by the commission. The plan must be based on reasonable and prudent practices identified through workshops conducted by the commission pursuant to ORS 757.960 and on commission standards adopted by rule. The public utility must design the plan in a manner that seeks to protect public safety, reduce risk to utility customers and promote electrical system resilience to wildfire damage. (2) A public utility that provides electricity shall regularly update a risk-based wildfire protection plan on a schedule determined by the commission. The plan must, at a minimum: (a) Identify areas that are subject to a heightened risk of wildfire and are: (A) Within the service territory of the public utility; and (B) Outside the service territory of the public utility but within a reasonable distance, as determined by the commission, of the public utility’s generation or transmission assets. (b) Identify a means for mitigating wildfire risk that reflects a reasonable balancing of mitigation costs with the resulting reduction of wildfire risk. (c) Identify preventive actions and programs that the public utility will carry out to minimize the risk of utility facilities causing a wildfire. (d) After seeking information from regional, state and local entities, including municipalities, identify a protocol for the deenergizing of power lines and adjusting of power system operations to mitigate wildfires, promote the safety of the public and first responders and preserve health and communication infrastructure. (e) Describe the procedures, standards and time frames that the public utility will use to inspect utility infrastructure in areas that the public utility identifies under paragraph (a) of this subsection. (f) Describe the procedures, standards and time frames that the public utility will use to carry out vegetation management in areas that the public utility identifies under paragraph (a) of this subsection. (g) Identify the development, implementation and administration costs for the plan. (h) Identify the community outreach and public awareness efforts that the public utility will use before, during and after a wildfire season. (3) To develop a plan described in subsection (2) of this section, a public utility may consult with and consider information from regional, state and local entities, including municipalities. (4) The commission, in consultation with the State Forestry Department and local emergency services agencies, shall evaluate a public utility’s wildfire protection plan and plan updates through a public process. (5) Not more than 180 days after receiving a wildfire protection plan or plan update from a public utility, the commission shall approve or approve with conditions the plan or update if the commission finds that the plan or update is based on reasonable and prudent practices identified through workshops pursuant to ORS 757.960 and designed to meet all applicable rules and standards adopted by the commission. (6) The commission’s approval of a wildfire protection plan does not establish a defense to any enforcement action for violation of a commission decision, order or rule or relieve a public utility from proactively managing wildfire risk, including by monitoring emerging practices and technologies. (7) The commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section. The rules may include, but need not be limited to, procedures and standards regarding vegetation management, public power safety shutoffs and restorations, pole materials, circuitry and monitoring systems. (8) All reasonable operating costs incurred by, and prudent investments made by, a public utility to develop, implement or operate a wildfire protection plan under this section are recoverable in the rates of the public utility from all customers through a filing under ORS 757.210 to 757.220. The commission shall establish an automatic adjustment clause, as defined in ORS 757.210, or another method to allow timely recovery of the costs. [2021 c.592 §3]