Wildfire Mitigation for Utilities Conference

February 25-26, 2025 | San Diego, CA ::

0225-wildfire-mitigation

“The caliber of guest speakers and their presentations is unrivaled. Details of historical, present, and future strategies and technologies employed were covered, including deep dives into forecasting modeling. This is a must for individuals in the utility industry to keep up with wildfire mitigation strategies!” Electrical Engineer, California Department of Water Resources

“Really enjoyed hearing the lessons learned from other utilities in the west and things they are doing to move the wildfire and PSPS programs forward.” Project Manager, EWEB

“Good event for getting up to date on the impact of wildfires on the electrical systems of the western U.S.” Vegetation Supervisor, Pacificorp

“A very good opportunity for federal land managers to hear an industry and state perspective on wildfire risk mitigation.” – US Department of the Interior

In 2024, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported a staggering number of wildfires scorching millions of acres across the United States. Electric utilities operating in wildfire-prone regions face escalating risks, making it imperative for them to adopt comprehensive strategies to minimize their exposure and financial liabilities.

Join us at this crucial summit, where utility professionals and wildfire experts will discuss pressing issues, share insights, and chart a course for a more resilient future. At this event, you can expect:

• Regulatory Insights: Gain a deep understanding of regulatory perspectives on wildfire mitigation plans, enabling your utility to navigate the complex landscape more effectively.
• Wildfire Trends & Resilience Strategies: Stay informed about the latest wildfire trends and discover resilient strategies to fortify your utility to weather the storm.
• Wildland-Urban Interface & Vegetation Management Challenges: Explore the unique challenges posed by the wildland-urban interface and find innovative solutions for effective vegetation management.
• Technological Advancements: Stay at the forefront of wildfire mitigation with insights into the latest technological advancements to bolster your utility’s defenses.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to safeguard your utility’s future. Register now to secure your spot at the forefront of wildfire mitigation in the utility sector.

Learning Outcomes

This conference will provide attendees an opportunity to:

• Discuss the latest regulatory policies and their implications for utility operations.
• Develop clear and actionable wildfire mitigation plans that comply with new regulations.
• Identify successful mitigation objectives and goals to enhance utility preparedness.
• Analyze the latest data on wildfire trends and anticipate challenges for 2025.
• Formulate resilience strategies using new research findings.
• Apply predictive analytics to improve preparedness and response efforts.
• Project wildfire risks under climate change using DOE’s E3SM climate model.
• Optimize hardening budgets to mitigate wildfire impacts effectively.
• Manage the complexities of WUI areas using innovative vegetation management practices.
• Integrate new technologies for improved risk assessment and mitigation.
• Assess the effectiveness of communication strategies using data-driven tools and methods.
• Evaluate and improve the effectiveness of PSPS events to minimize their impact while ensuring safety.
• Implement best practices for training programs and procedural updates.
• Identify funding opportunities for infrastructure improvements.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

 

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. :: Welcome Message

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. :: Panel Discussion: Regulatory Objectives for Effective Wildfire Mitigation Plans

Stay ahead of the curve with insights from regulators across various states and regions. This session will cover updated regulations and expectations for utility wildfire mitigation plans, ensuring your strategies are compliant for the upcoming fire season. Understand new policies, their implications, and the specifics of successful mitigation objectives and goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding new regulatory policies and their impact on utility operations.
• Crafting clear and actionable wildfire mitigation plans.
• Insights into successful mitigation objectives and goals.

Caroline Thomas-Jacobs, Director, Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, State of California

Heide Caswell, Manager, Wildfire Mitigation, Oregon Public Utility Commission

David Morton, Chair, International Confederation of Energy Regulators; Former Chair, British Columbia Utility Commission

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. :: Networking Break

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. :: Wildfire Trends and Resilience Strategies

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest wildfire trends and the challenges anticipated for 2025. This session will focus on developing effective resilience strategies by leveraging new research findings and predictive analytics to enhance the preparedness and response of electric utilities.

• The latest data on wildfire trends.
• Resilience strategies based on new research.
• Utilizing predictive analytics for improved preparedness and response.

Nisha Menon, Wildfire Mitigation Strategy Manager, SDG&E

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Mitigation Analytics – Department of Energy

Under the DOE Office of Electricity’s North American Energy Resilience Model (NAERM), LLNL has been leading efforts on transmission-scale (mainly) wildfire analytics – including:

• Projections for wildfire risk under climate change (leveraging DOE’s E3SM climate model)
• Identification of critical components (N-k contingencies) considering wildfire risk
• Optimal allocation via rigorous optimization of hardening budgets for wildfire impacts mitigation.

Dr. Jean-Paul Watson, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Center for Applied Scientific Computing – Computing Directorate; Associate Program Leader for Climate-Infrastructure Resilience, Cyber and Infrastructure Resilience Program – Global Security Directorate; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. :: Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) Challenges and Enhanced Vegetation Management

This session will cover the latest on navigating the increasing complexity of managing Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) areas with a focus on innovative vegetation management practices. Learn how integrating new technologies can improve risk assessment and mitigation efforts.

• Discover cutting-edge approaches to managing the unique challenges posed by WUI areas.
• Gain insights into effective strategies for vegetation management tailored to WUI zones.
• Opportunities for compounded resilience through mutual awareness of mitigation states between transmission lines and WUI communities

Frank Frievalt, Director, WUI Fire Institute, Cal Poly

Jeff Wissing, Vegetation Management Supervisor, Holy Cross Energy

Senior Representative, Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, State of California

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. :: Effective Public Outreach and Communication Strategies for Fuels Management

Effective public outreach and communication are critical components of fuels management strategies. This session will cover best practices and innovative approaches that utilities and wildfire management agencies can adopt to engage and inform communities about fuels management initiatives.

• Crafting Clear and Effective Messages: Techniques for creating messages that resonate with diverse audiences, including urban and rural communities.
• Engaging with Stakeholders: Building relationships with local governments, community leaders, and environmental organizations to support fuels management goals.
• Measuring Impact: Tools and methods for assessing the effectiveness of communication strategies and making data-driven improvements.

Senior Representative, Southwest Strategies

2:15 – 2:45 p.m. :: Networking Break

2:45 – 5:00 p.m. :: Showcase: Technological Innovations and Tools

Explore cutting-edge technological advancements in wildfire mitigation. Presentations will cover AI-driven risk assessment tools, improved fire modeling software, and new equipment designed to enhance firefighting and mitigation efforts.

Pavel Grechanuk, Senior Data Scientist, Technosylva

Chuck Parker, VP Sales – Americas, Indji

Senior Representative, Bureau Veritas

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. :: Networking Reception

 

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

9:00 – 9:05 a.m. :: Welcome Message

9:05 – 9:45 a.m. :: Panel Discussion: Best Practices for Wildfire Mitigation

Join a panel of utility leaders as they discuss best practices and successful strategies for wildfire mitigation. Gain valuable insights and practical advice to improve your own mitigation efforts.

• Successful strategies from industry leaders.
• Practical advice for improving mitigation efforts.

Jordan Ambrogi, Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager, CORE

Jon Axtman, T&D Engineering and Reliability Senior Manager, Idaho Power

Nisha Menon, Wildfire Mitigation Strategy Manager, SDG&E

Jennifer Fernandez, Senior Manager, Wildfire Safety , Wildfire Performance Management, SCE

9:45 – 10:15 a.m. :: Networking Break

10:15 – 11:00 a.m. :: Infrastructure Enhancements to Reduce Risk of Wildfires

This session will detail cutting-edge strategies and technologies designed to fortify utility infrastructure against the threat of wildfires. Industry experts will discuss the implementation of:

• Fire-resistant materials
• Advanced monitoring systems
• Proactive maintenance practices
• Weather stations
• Predictive maintenance

Senior Representative, Hendrix

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. :: System Hardening

This session will cover critical strategies and innovations in system hardening to reduce wildfire risks. This presentation will explore the latest advancements in undergrounding power lines, reinforcing poles and wires, and deploying fire-resistant materials. Attendees will gain insights into the implementation process, the challenges faced, and the tangible benefits observed in wildfire mitigation efforts. Learn how PG&E’s proactive measures are shaping a more resilient and safer power grid.

Matt Pender, Senior Director, Undergrounding and System Hardening, PG&E

11:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. :: Operational Excellence in Fire Prevention and Response

Understand the importance of operational excellence in fire prevention and response. Learn about new training programs, procedural updates, and the significance of maintaining a proactive safety culture within utilities.

• Best practices for training programs and procedural updates.
• Operational details on maintaining a safety culture within your utility.

Brett Phillips, Wildfire Operations Program Management, Portland General

Jennifer Fernandez, Senior Manager, Wildfire Safety , Wildfire Performance Management, SCE

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. :: Private Tour: SDG&E Wildfire Climate Resilience Center

Jordan Ambrogi, Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager, CORE

Jon Axtman, T&D Engineering and Reliability Senior Manager, Idaho Power

Melissa Cameron, Southwest Strategies

Heide Caswell, Manager, Wildfire Mitigation, Oregon Public Utility Commission

Jennifer Fernandez, Senior Manager, Wildfire Safety , Wildfire Performance Management, SCE

Frank Frievalt, Director, WUI Fire Institute, Cal Poly

Pavel Grechanuk, Senior Wildfire Risk Scientist, Technosylva

Nisha Menon, Wildfire Mitigation Strategy Manager, SDG&E

David Morton, Chair, International Confederation of Energy Regulators

Chuck Parker, VP Sales – Americas, Indji

Matt Pender, Undergrounding and System Hardening, PG&E

Brett Phillips, Wildfire Operations Program Management, Portland General

Caroline Thomas-Jacobs, Director, Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, State of California

Dr. Jean-Paul Watson, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Center for Applied Scientific Computing – Computing Directorate; Associate Program Leader for Climate-Infrastructure Resilience, Cyber and Infrastructure Resilience Program – Global Security Directorate; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Jeff Wissing, Vegetation Management Supervisor, Holy Cross Energy

Senior Representative, Bureau Veritas

Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Wildfire Mitigation for Utilities Conference

February 25-26, 2025 | San Diego, CA

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 January 24, 2025 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

Credits

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 0.8 CEUs conference.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Case Studies, Panel Discussions and PowerPoint presentations will be used in the program.

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Conference CPE Credits: 9.5
There is no prerequisite for this event.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Live
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

Individuals working in the following areas will benefit from attending this event:

• Electric Utility Leaders
• Utility Risk Management Professionals
• Utility Grid Planning and Operations Specialists
• Utility Transmission and Field Services Personnel
• State and Federal Agencies
• Mitigation Specialists
• Policy Makers
• Researchers
• Corporate Communications Specialists
• Insurers
• Consultants
• Fire Prevention & Mitigation Technology Providers