20260414News Release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Little,Governor
P.O. Box 83720. Boise, ID 83720-0074 Edward Lodge, President
John R.Hammond, Jr.,Commissioner
Dayn Hardie,Commissioner
Case No. IPC-E-25-32
Order No. 37004
Contact:Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail Address: [e-mail]
NEWS RELEASE: Commission issues order approving electric utility's wildfire mitigation plan.
BOISE (April 14,2026)—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has issued an order approving
Idaho Power's 2026 wildfire mitigation plan (WMP). The plan includes information on steps the
utility is taking to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Electric utilities file the plans with the Commission pursuant to the Wildfire Standard of Care
Act(WSCA). The WSCA requires the Commission to annually approve WMPs for investor-
owned utilities. Under the WSCA, if a wildfire results in a lawsuit against an electric utility, there
is the presumption the utility acted without negligence if it reasonably implemented a
Commission-approved WMP.
Idaho Power's 2026 plan includes information on the use of software to identify wildfire risk,
efforts to enhance the utility's wildfire situational awareness and how design methods for new
transmission lines and upgrades of existing lines will help reduce wildfire ignition potential in
heightened risk areas. The plan also includes information on wildfire risk zones,procedural and
personnel measures designed to help employees prevent wildfires and efforts to educate the
public about wildfire mitigation, among other items.
The Commission issued its order approving the plan on April 14, 2026. It determined Idaho
Power's WMP adequately addressed the required elements, including risk identification and
assessment, mitigation strategies, community outreach,vegetation management, infrastructure
inspection and maintenance, operational practices and emergency response protocols.
The Commission also determined the utility's WMP is consistent with the public interest and
takes into account the protection of public health, safety and welfare, the feasibility of proposed
mitigation efforts and the anticipated costs of implementing the plan.
Additional information is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7640.