Bill > HB1522

This bill addresses electric utility wildfire mitigation planning by requiring electrical companies to file and regularly update wildfire mitigation plans with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Commission). Each electrical company must submit a wildfire mitigation plan as soon as practicable, with updates required at least every three years, and should aim to coordinate these filings with their multiyear rate plans. The Commission will review these plans through a public process, holding at least one workshop and hearing, and must approve, reject, or approve with conditions the plan within 120 days of filing. The Commission has the authority to recommend additional elements, modify plans to balance mitigation costs with wildfire risk reduction, and consult with various stakeholders including government entities, utilities, and customer groups. The bill also requires the Commission to adopt rules specifying procedures for vegetation management, public safety power shutoffs, and other technical aspects of wildfire mitigation. Importantly, the legislation explicitly states that the Commission is not liable for an electrical company's plan implementation and that no cause of action can arise against the state or Commission for actions taken under this section. The bill's intent is to ensure safe and reliable electric power transmission while keeping rates affordable, and it explicitly notes that it relates only to planning and does not alter existing legal standards for liability.