Best Practices for Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans
November 19-20, 2024 | Online :: Central Time
Wildfire threats are growing, with prolonged seasons and bigger fires. In response, states are enacting requirements for utilities to submit Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) or Natural Disaster Protection Plans. These initiatives are designed to improve utility wildfire safety by focusing on the mitigation of ignition risks. Developing these plans involves collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Wildfire risk must be considered in specific communities, focusing on long-term resilience.
Join EUCI’s Best Practices for Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans course to learn about:
- Essential processes, tools, and capabilities for utility-driven mitigation efforts
- Systematic long-range risk reduction strategies for utilities
- Critical elements in a successful Wildfire Mitigation Plan
- Long-term strategies to enhance community resilience against wildfire threats
- Best practices for engagement with stakeholders to develop effective wildfire mitigation strategies
Register now to secure your spot in this essential course.
Learning Outcomes
- Master best practices for preparing wildfire mitigation plans
- Identify how to customize wildfire mitigation plans for specific service areas and risk
- Discuss the critical role of communication among stakeholders in developing wildfire mitigation plans
- Analyze current trends in vegetation management strategies
- Navigate the regulatory landscape affecting wildfire mitigation
- Explore various wildfire mitigation methodologies
- Evaluate the role of data in developing effective mitigation strategies
- Identify primary concerns in public safety power shutoff (PSPS) policies
- Investigate engineering strategies for wildfire mitigation
- Develop a keen awareness of the importance of situational awareness in creating effective wildfire mitigation plans
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 : Central Time
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Online Login
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch Break
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Course Timing
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. :: Introduction
- Overview
- Objectives
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. :: Regulatory Landscape
Navigating utility wildfire mitigation planning involves achieving tangible outcomes. This session explores evolving state regulations and utility responses. Insights from various states will be discussed.
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. :: Evaluating Wildfire Risk
Understanding fire risk is the cornerstone of mitigation planning. This segment covers comprehensive risk assessment and the integration of data-driven strategies.
- Methodologies
- Modeling
- Data Assessment
- Data Sources
- Data Considerations and Limitations
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. :: Lunch Break
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. :: Situational Awareness
The role of Situational Awareness (SA) spans wildfire phases:
- Preparedness
- Detection
- Response
- Suppression
- Mop-up
- Reclamation
This session will examine SA in wildfire response planning.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. :: Vegetation Management
This session will highlight adaptive approaches, technologies, and solutions for sustainable utility vegetation management aimed at wildfire prevention and asset protection.
- Leading trends in vegetation management.
- Strategies for breaking down departmental barriers within utilities.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. :: Performance Metrics and Monitoring
Discussion on the importance of performance metrics and monitoring in wildfire mitigation efforts.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. :: Review and open Q&A
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 : Central Time
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Online Log In
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Course Timing
9:00 – 10:15 a.m. :: Wildfire Mitigation Strategies
Wildfire prevention practices reduce or eliminate fire risk by removing or reducing heat sources, modifying fuels and reducing the likelihood of a heat source coming in contact with ignitable fuels. This session explores how mitigation strategies are integrated into WMPs.
- Best Field Practices
- Responses to Escalating Fire Weather Conditions
- Optimal System Operations
- Engineering Solutions
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break
10:45 – 11:15 a.m. :: Public Safety Power Shutoff
This session will detail the factors to consider when adding PSPS procedures to a utility wildfire mitigation plan.
- Timeline Considerations
- Precautionary Measures
- Communication Strategies Before, During, and After a PSPS event
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Fire Response Strategies
- Agency Collaboration & Response
- Formulating Effective Agency Relationships
- Building a Fire Classification System
- Internal Fire Intelligence Communication
Joe Vaccaro, Principal, Wildfire Risk & Mitigation Solutions, LLC; Former Wildfire Mitigation Metrics & Measures Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric
Joe has over 15 years of experience in wildfire mitigation and climate adaptation, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a passion for delivering innovative and effective solutions for the energy sector. He is currently the principal of Wildfire Risk & Mitigation Solutions, LLC.; working in the energy sector on the development of strategic programs and initiatives along with managing people, developing paths of change management while creating clear measures and metrics to monitor and improve performance.
In previous roles he developed a metrics and measures program to assess and improve the performance and impact of fire prevention and response programs enterprise wide. He has managed and led various cross-functional teams, managed contractors, worked with regulators, and stakeholders to ensure compliance, alignment, and collaboration. He has also leveraged skills in contract negotiation, government contracting, and regulatory affairs to secure funding, approvals, and partnerships for key fire mitigation and adaptation projects. Some notable achievements include the development of the first Fire Prevention Plan by utilities that morphed into the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, work to develop an active vegetation management plan, implemented a new fire risk assessment tool, and facilitating a regional wildfire summit. With over 42 years of increasing levels of management and project overview in 15+ areas of utility operations, he has a unique insight into utility challenges.
We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.
- Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
- You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
- If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
- The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.
Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ
If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event
REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:
Best Practices for Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans
November 19-20, 2024 | Online
| Individual attendee(s) - $ 1395.00 each | |
Volume pricing also availableIndividual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility |
|
| Pack of 5 attendees - $ 5,580.00 (20% discount) | |
| Pack of 10 attendees - $ 9,765.00 (30% discount) | |
| Pack of 20 attendees - $ 16,740.00 (40% discount) | |
Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before October 18, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800
EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.
EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this course.
Requirements For Successful Completion Of Program
Participants must log on each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.
Instructional Methods
Case studies, PowerPoint presentations, and Q&A will be used in this event.
Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.
Course CPE Credits: 11.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None
EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org
Who Should Attend
- Electric Utility Leaders
- Utility Risk Management Professionals
- Utility Grid Planning and Operations Specialists
- Utility Transmission and Field Services Personnel
- State and Federal Agencies
- City Planning Agencies
- Mitigation Specialists
- Policy Makers
- Researchers
- Corporate Communication Specialists
- Insurers
- Consultants
- Fire Prevention and Mitigation Technology Providers
