WSAB Adopts Advisory Opinion for Publicly Owned Electrical Utilities

Recommendations will improve wildfire mitigation efforts

SACRAMENTO – The Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (Board) today adopted an advisory opinion for publicly owned electrical utilities (POU) to follow in the development of their Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMP). The 11 adopted recommendations include highlighting POU progress and achievements, making WMPs digitally accessible, and adding descriptions of quality control/assurance programs in their WMPs.

To develop these recommendations, the Board’s POU Issues Committee met with the POUs six times during the spring of this year. The committee then presented a staff report to the Board at its June meeting. The recommendations in the advisory opinion were developed collaboratively between the Board and the POUs.

On October 11, the Board released the draft advisory opinion for public comment. Public adoption of the advisory opinion follows incorporation of these public comments.

The Board reviews WMPs submitted by the POUs and electrical cooperatives and provides comments and advisory opinions to improve wildfire mitigation efforts. The Board also serves as an additional forum for the public to provide input on wildfire safety activities.

More information can be found on the Board’s Publicly Owned Utilities docket log.