Oregon Public Utility Commission
Emergency Messages as of 4:01 pm, Thu. Mar. 28
No information currently posted.
Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Primary email address for a new account:

  
And/or follow our FlashAlerts via Twitter

About FlashAlert on Twitter:

FlashAlert utilizes the free service Twitter to distribute emergency text messages. While you are welcome to register your cell phone text message address directly into the FlashAlert system, we recommend that you simply "follow" the FlashAlert account for Oregon Public Utility Commission by clicking on the link below and logging in to (or creating) your free Twitter account. Twitter sends messages out exceptionally fast thanks to arrangements they have made with the cell phone companies.

Click here to add Oregon Public Utility Commission to your Twitter account or create one.

@PUCOregon

Hide this Message


Manage my existing Subscription

News Release
Commission Builds on Efforts to Reduce GHG Emissions, Receives Regulated Utilities' Wildfire Mitigation Update - 05/21/20

SALEM, Ore. – Earlier today, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) received an update on wildfire mitigation efforts and planning from regulated electric utility service providers, building on past work to address wildfire risk and marking an initial step to meet the directives established in Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04 related to wildfires. Today’s updates from PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric, and Idaho Power are part of an ongoing dialogue with the PUC to share perspectives and evolving approaches to the rapidly changing wildfire risk in order to protect Oregon communities and critical infrastructure.

Executive Order 20-04 directed the PUC to evaluate wildfire protection plans and activities of regulated electric utilities to improve safety, reduce risks, and promote electric system resilience. It also directed the PUC to convene workshops to develop and share emerging best practices for mitigating wildfire risk. The PUC’s efforts to meet these directives builds on work completed last summer, including hosting of a wildfire mitigation event with utility commissions and experts from British Columbia, California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon to share regional best practices and expertise. Also last year, the PUC asked the regulated utilities to report on wildfire mitigation efforts. Today’s update was a follow-up to last year’s activities.

 “Today provided an opportunity to explore the progress and learning that has happened in the last year and understand the priorities for this fire season, a season complicated by the COVID public health emergency,” said Letha Tawney, PUC Commissioner.

The utilities addressed their risk methodology, regional mitigation coordination, asset inspection, vegetation management, public safety power shut-offs, inspection and maintenance, metrics to determine effectiveness, community outreach and education, and more.

Tawney added, “Our next steps will include opportunities for broader stakeholder participation and engagement, including state and local emergency planners, local governments, and communities impacted by wildfires. Additionally, the PUC will partner with all operators of electric systems throughout Oregon to further discuss best practices to better equip all utilities to effectively and continuously adapt to changing wildfire risk.”

To view the presentations provided by Oregon Department of Forestry and Bonneville Power Association, and the wildfire mitigation updates provided by PacifiCorp, PGE, and Idaho Power, visit: https://oregonpuc.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=oregonpuc_cd21c23bbb16773d47212b29cc4d16b1.pdf&view=1.

# # #

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric, natural gas and telephone utilities, as well as select water companies. The PUC mission is to ensure Oregon utility customers have access to safe, reliable, and high quality utility services at just and reasonable rates, which is accomplished through thorough analysis and independent decision-making conducted in an open and fair process.

 

View more news releases from Oregon Public Utility Commission.