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Home My WebLink About14, Wildfire Mitigation Overview March 6, 2019 14ITEM #WORKSHOP Wildfire Mitigation OverviewWildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview BACKGROUND / HISTORY Billions in economic losses•More than 26,000 structures burned•500,000 acres scorched (~782 square miles)•In excess of 100 fatalities•Camp Fire (2018), Tubbs Fire (2018) & Woolsey Fire (2017) •Major events in recent years•wildfire-itigate risk mManage and •Serve customer and community needs•Respond to dynamic regulatory environment•ervicesProvide cost effective •Provide safe, reliable, and clean electric service•tility environmentuCurrent •Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview BACKGROUND / HISTORY civil and criminal litigationPending •their equipment probable cause of wildfiresacknowledges PG&E •PG&E files for bankruptcy protection citing civil exposure due to wildfires•current impacts on California electric utilities–Catastrophic wildfire •Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview BACKGROUND / HISTORY Tier 1 (lowest), Tier 2 or Tier 3 (highest)•Threat Districts (HFTD)Requires utilization of State map to identify assets in High Fire •Independent third party review•Specific elements regarding preparation and response to wildfire•Operational changes•Requires Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP)•Supersedes and replaces SB 1028•Substantial legislative support due to 2018 wildfires•Senate Bill 901 (2018)•No mandatory requirements on Publicly Owned Utilities (POUs)•In response to extreme climate concerns•Senate Bill 1028 (2016)•Legislative responses to major wild fire events•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview Fire Threat Map(CPUC)Public Utilities CommissionCalifornia BACKGROUND / HISTORY Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION The District already utilizes many practices to minimize wildfire threat•Review and adopt annually by this Board•party to review WMP and present findings in public forum-Third•Very complex•Consideration for a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) program•Prepare a WMP that addresses requirements of SB901•Operating and maintaining its system•The District shall minimize the risk of wildfire by•Overview of WMP requirements•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION fusesexpulsionary-Non•RFW)-Evaluate delaying routine work during extreme weather events (non•Review of routine work during Red Flag Warning•Removing legacy tree attachments (primarily Donner Lake area)•Current operational enhancements to mitigate wildfire risk•Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3, Platinum)•System inspections•Use of FR3 (ester based oil)•Heavy loading district construction•shot)-(onereclosersDisabling •Vegetation management•Established District practices•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION h7l_aM-https://youtu.be/g4ph•Represents approximately 1.8% of 2019 District revenue•Budgeted $700,000 for 2019 fiscal year•year cycle-trim entire system on five-Cycle•Visually inspect overhead system annually•Pruning, shaping, and clearing•Supplemented by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) for:•10’ minimum clearance required around poles•times4’ Required from primary lines at all •required at time of tree trim from primary conductors 12’ •4293Complies with Public Resource Code 4292 & •Complies with State of California, General Order 95 (Rule 35)•anagement Plan (VMP)MDistrict has a comprehensive Vegetation •Vegetation management•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION cycleyear District -Five2018–2011 Tree Trim Cycles Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview $700,000 2019$700,000 2018$567,000 2017$260,000 2016$247,200 2015$235,000 2014$263,680 2013$256,000 2012$254,375 2011$250,000 2010 and PriorAmount Year NEW INFORMATION Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Staff will continue evaluating operational practices••Extreme weather•Red Flag Warning (RFW)•Staff can proactively disable •Very common protective devices among utilities•round system protection in varying weather conditions-Provides year•energizedAutomatically “test” the line, if intermittent condition cleared, line remains •Greatly reduces restoration time, prevents protracted outages•Trees in line, snow unloading, other momentary conditions•energize the system for intermittent conditions -Automatically de•Strategically placed throughout the distribution system••)eclosersrAutomatic protective reclosing devices (•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Reduces conductor slap due to snow unloading or wind conditions•Avoids stacking energized conductors (vertical construction)•Common utility construction•Hardens the system by increasing separation between conductors•)crossarmDistrict utilizes horizontal framing (energized conductors on a •resiliantwind events because the system is -Can better withstand high•eavy loads compared to other areas in CaliforniaH••High elevation•Takes into consideration•Strongest construction standard•Governed by General Order 95 (Rule 43.1)•oading DistrictLHeavy •Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Now used in all equipment requiring insulating oil••Environmentally friendly•Mineral oils are known to combust•Celsius-Celsius vs. 160-360•point-High flash•based) oil-Derived from vegetable (seed•Natural ester based oil•FR3•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION 20 year cycle for entire system–10 •Intrusive inspection of poles•year cycle-100% of system on five•20% of system annually•Detailed inspections (careful examination of equipment and structures)•Visually inspect entire system annually•drives inspection requirements–Rural area •Compliant with State of California, General Order 165 •System inspections•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION(Maximum)Inspection CyclesGO 165State of California Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Improved to Platinum designation (second highest) 2018•Initially designated Gold (third highest) 2015•Workforce investment•Reliability •Safety•System improvements (hardening of the system)•Measures operational excellence in the categories of•agenciesPeer reviewed by industry experts employed by other public power •–Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) •Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Define timeline to completion•Install poles where practicable•Remove tree attachments•Staff will propose a program as part of the WMP•Current District construction standards preclude this type of installation•Donner Lake area•Considered undesirable in some locations•Often viewed as temporary•Minimized costs•Avoid installing poles•Primarily a practice by PG&E as a legacy installation•voltage lines attached to trees-Services or low•Legacy tree attachments•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview Donner Lake areaServices connected to trees NEW INFORMATION Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Return to routine work when RFW or extreme weather subsides•Emergency work could be performed•work on 12.47 & 14.4kV lines-Evaluate delaying routine hot•RFW extreme weather (i.e. high winds)-During non•work) on 12.47 & 14.4kV lines-Applies only to energized work (hot•Emergency work (life or property preservation) could be performed•During RFW, minimize routine work•Additional mitigating steps under consideration•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Expensive•evaluatedOperational impacts being •Will require work procedure changes•Does not vent to atmosphere•Utilizes an encapsulated fuse element•area, State Tier 3)Tahoe Donner (Alder Creek/Stockholm •Pilot project•urrent limiting fusescexpulsionary -Non•Vegetation is cleared around poles and lines •link element ionize, venting to atmosphere-Gases and the silver•tube to exhaust gases-Uses an arc•Common nationwide utility practice•Current system protection practices utilize expulsionary type fuses •Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview NEW INFORMATION Ahead of 2019 fire season•Ahead of legislative requirements•Staff proposal is proactive•WMP required to be implemented by January 1, 2020•TBD based upon yet to be defined regulations/requirements•expertWMP to be reviewed by independent third party •Board can consider adopting WMP at June 5, meeting•Staff to present draft WMP to Board at May 1, meeting•Propose operational practices consistent with SB 901•Staff to prepare draft WMP•Next steps•Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview Future costs related to additional unfunded mandates is unknown•SB901 precludes recovery of expenses from State•Full costs of SB901 unknown at this time•FISCAL IMPACT Wildfire Mitigation Overview Wildfire Mitigation Overview Provide input and direction to staff•RECOMMENDATION Wildfire Mitigation Overview