20260611News Release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Littte,Governor
P.O. Box 83720. Boise. ID 83720-0074 Edward Lodge, Resident
John R.Hamnwnd, Jr.,Commissioner
Dayn Hardie,Commissioner
Case No.AVU-E-25-15
Order No. 37064
Contact:Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail Address: [e-mail]
NEWS RELEASE: Commission Approves Northern Idaho Electric Utility's Wildfire Mitigation
Plan
BOISE (June 11, 2026)—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has issued an order approving
Avista Utilities'wildfire mitigation plan (WMP). The plan offers information on work the utility
is doing to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Electric utilities submit 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.
Avista Utilities said the WMP is built around a geographical risk assessment, which utilizes a
risk-informed approach that considers wildfire probability and consequence to identify areas that
may be subject to potential heightened wildfire risk in locations where the utility has
infrastructure or equipment. In addition to the geographical risk assessment, the plan includes
information on situational awareness, grid hardening, enhanced vegetation management and
operations and emergency response.
The Commission issued an order approving the WMP on June 9, 2026. It found that when
reasonably weighing cost mitigation, the WMP addresses wildfire risk identification and
assessment,preventative and corrective mitigation measures, public outreach and governmental
coordination, infrastructure inspection and maintenance, operational practices, vegetation
management, situational awareness, emergency response planning and public communication
protocols.
Additional information on the WMP is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7660.