20260609News Release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Uttte,Governor
P.O. Box 83720. Boise, ID 83720-0074 Edward Lodge, President
John R.Hammond, Jr„Commissioner
Dayn Hardie,Commissioner
Case No. PAC-E-25-22
Order No. 37063
Contact:Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail Address: [e-mail]
NEWS RELEASE: Commission Approves Eastern Idaho Electric Utility's Wildfire Mitigation
Plan
BOISE (June 9, 2026)—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has issued an order approving
Rocky Mountain Power's wildfire mitigation plan(WMP). The WMP offers information on
work the utility is doing to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Electric utilities submit the WMPs to the Commission pursuant to the Wildfire Standard of Care
Act(WSCA). The WSCA requires the Commission to annually approve the plans for investor-
owned electric 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. Municipal and cooperative electric utilities, which are not
regulated by the Commission, may voluntarily submit plans for the Commission's review.
Rocky Mountain Power said it has implemented a variety of programs to help reduce wildfire
risks. The efforts include vegetation management, situational awareness technologies and
operational restrictions during times of elevated wildfire risk. The utility also made infrastructure
improvements, including pole replacements, conductor upgrades, placing projects underground
and retrofitting or replacing older equipment when cost-effective.
The Commission issued an order approving the WMP on June 9, 2026. It determined the WMP
satisfied the minimum statutory requirements set forth in the WSCA. The Commission also
found that the plan adequately addressed wildfire risk identification and assessment,preventative
and corrective mitigation measures as well as public outreach and emergency response planning,
among other required elements.
Additional information is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7672.