20200529Attachment E.pdf

5-28-20 Attachment E
AVISTA'S WILDFIRE RESILIENCY PLAN
Gommunications Plan
Overview
Wildfires pose a large and growing risk to millions of Americans. ln recent years, public focus on
this significant risk - and the role that power providers play - has intensified and the stakes for
utilities have never been higher.
To that end, Avista is taking its role and responsibilities seriously and has developed a
comprehensive Wildfire Resiliency Plan involving both strategic investments to mitigate risk, as
well as a set of processes and responses that can be deployed in case of a wildfire.
Avista's comprehensive Wildfire Resiliency Plan builds on and enhances Avista's emergency
operation preparedness; promotes public safety and protection of physical assets and property;
and safeguards company assets to mitigate financial and liability risks. ln addition, the Wildfire
Resiliency Plan emphasizes collaboration with land-management and fire response agencies. lt
includes the following goals:
1. Promote Public & Worker Safety: Protect Avista employees and customers from the
impact of wildfires.
2. Emergency Preparedness: Minimize service disruptions caused by wildfires and other
extreme weather events.
3. Financial Protection: Protect the Company from financial and reputational liability.
To meet these goals, the plan's recommendations are focused in four key areas:
1. Vegetation Management- lmplement actions above and beyond traditional, reliability-
based approaches with the goal of reducing contact between vegetation and utility
powerlines in targeted geographic areas.
2. SituationalAwareness- lmplement tools and systems that enhance Avista's capabilities
and knowledge in weather forecasting, fire prediction, and equipment control to inform
operational decision-making.
3. Operations and Emergency Response- Recognize wildfire as separate and distinct
from other significant weather events, and utilize training and simulation for Avista
personnelto better prepare them to work with fire professionals during an event.
4. Grid Hardening- Replace and strengthen infrastructure in fire-prone areas, reducing the
likelihood of a spark-ignition source and protecting critical infrastructure from the impacts
of fire.
A key element of this Wildfire Resiliency Plan is ensuring that Avista stakeholders know the plan
is in place, buy into it, and take pride in the fact that the Company is taking the right
precautionary steps to reduce the potential for and impact of wildflres. A strong and effective
strategic communications campaign is criticalto the Company to ensure broad awareness and
demonstrate Avista's commitment to preventing wildfires-a plan directed at all of Avista's key
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stakeholders, including: customers, employees, state and local government officials and
regulators, law enforcemenUfire departments, local media, and shareholders.
The following is the framework for communicating about the Wildfire Resiliency Plan.
Com mun ications Obiectives
Ensure awareness among all key stakeholders of the significant actions and investment
Avista is taking to prevent or mitigate the risk of wildfires.
lnstill confidence in Avista as a proactive and responsible corporate citizen.
Get "buy-in" support and recognition from key stakeholders that Avista is taking wildfire
safety seriously and has a Wildfire Resiliency Plan in place.
Help generate support and recognition for Avista as a leader that is doing all it can to
help avoid wildfires and has in place a strong wildfire prevention and safety program.
Demonstrate Avista's focus on prioritizing the safety and well-being of its customers and
the communities it serves.
Phase 1 Communications
The first phase of communications about the Wildfire Resiliency Plan will be focused on the
plan's launch and the communications objectives noted above. The timing and implementation
of the tactics will be aligned with when the plan is finalized. No communications will begin until
the organization is ready from an operational and regulatory standpoint.
The second phase of communications would support specific strategies included within the plan,
such as enhanced vegetation management. Each initiative that requires customer or external
stakeholder behavior change would have its own communications plan with objectives, tactics
and timelines associated, as appropriate.
Recommended materials for development of phase one include
a
a
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Item Description/Details
Fact sheet . Overarching description of the Wildfire Resiliency Plan that is
simple and easy to understand
. Provides key highlights and elements of the plan
. Designed piece that aligns with Avista brand
. Can be used internally and externally
News release o Announces launch of plan
. Sent nationally over the wire
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Public Relations Activities bv Audience
Below are the tactics per audience that should be put in place.
1. Gommunications Targeted to AllAudiences
. Broadly issued press release
r Media outreach and coordination
. A dedicated section on Avista's website which will serve as a repository of
resources on prevention, preparedness and support. Content should be
continuously updated and eventually include content mentioned above:
Page on
myavista.com
. Serve as home base for information about the plan
o Provides information about Avista's approach and commitment to
wildfire resiliency
. Would include a link to the plan, the fact sheet, the news release,
Avista's vegetation management and right tree right place web
pages
. Provide customers information they need about wildfire, including
links to partners and community resources
Customer email . Use key messages
o Educate customers about steps Avista is taking to keep them safe
and provide reliable energy
Customer
handout
a Collateral piece that can be provided to customers to give them
information on emergency preparedness and wildfire safety
Presentation . TellAvista's Wildfire Resiliency Plan story
. Align with communications objectives
o For use with media, community groups, business leaders, etc.
Visualassets a ldentify and/or develop visual assets that can be used in the fact
sheet, on the web, on social, in customer communications, in media
engagements, etc.
lnterna!
communications
materials
o Leader communication
. Employeecommunication
o E.view EXTRA
r AdditionalTBD
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o Wildfire Plan fact sheet
o Advice on what customers can do to be prepared
Social media posts with links to wildfire safety web page, content about
upcoming inspections and repairs, tips during wildfire season, and other wildfire
related announcements.
Provide Avista wildfire links to state Commissions for use on state sites.
2. Employees
All leader communication, all employee communication, E.view EXTRA to align
with news release distribution.
3. Gustomers (business and residentia!)
. Communicate the Avista Wildfire Resiliency Plan through customer email(s).
. Highlight the plan and include timely information in customer newsletters.
4. Localcommunities
. ldentify appropriate/relevant opportunities for communications with key
stakeholders, which could include newsletter articles, community leader meetings
and/or presentations, town hall meetings, etc. in targeted communities served by
Avista.
. Engage with media as appropriate in cities/towns across the service area to
coincide with any community presentations or engagement.
o Add information and FAQs about wildfire safety related work to web page.
. lnclude tips on how to avoid wildfires, how to prepare for outages, what to put in
an emergency kits, and other resources to help get people informed.
a
a
a
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