Wildfire Mitigation Mastery – Strategies for a Resilient, Low-Risk T&D System

Wildfires represent one of the most significant and rapidly evolving risks facing electric utilities today. With fire season now a year-round threat, the dramatic rise in wildfire frequency and intensity—particularly in California and the Western U.S.—has driven utilities across North America to develop comprehensive wildfire mitigation plans. Regulators, investors, insurers, ISOs/RTOs, and customers increasingly view a robust mitigation strategy as an essential best practice for delivering a safer and more resilient transmission and distribution system. This panel convenes leading industry utilities to explore cutting-edge wildfire mitigation approaches that are establishing best practices. Topics will include regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations, early detection and situational awareness technologies, and a discussion about mitigation strategies such as covered conductors, strategic undergrounding, enhanced vegetation management, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) programs, and system hardening techniques. Attendees will leave with practical insights and actionable ideas for strengthening their own wildfire mitigation programs—helping utilities proactively meet stakeholder demands, reduce exposure, and build a more resilient grid for the future.