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1 informed by recognized best practices, as applicable to their <br />2 geography, terrain, vegetation, and other characteristics specific in <br />3 their service area, for reducing wildland fire risk and reducing <br />4 damage from wildland fires as may be ignited by electric utility <br />5 equipment. <br />6 (3) Therefore, the legislature intends to authorize the <br />7 identification of best practices guidelines and to require that <br />8 electric utilities provide their wildfire mitigation plans to the <br />9 state in order to promote public transparency. <br />10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 76.04 <br />11 RCW to read as follows: <br />12 (1) The department, in consultation with the energy resilience <br />13 and emergency management office of the department of commerce, shall <br />14 contract with an independent consultant with experience in developing <br />15 electric utility wildfire mitigation plans to develop an electric <br />16 utility wildfire mitigation plan format and a list of elements to be <br />17 included in electric utility wildfire mitigation plans. When <br />18 developing the plan format and list of elements, the department shall <br />19 seek input from the utilities and transportation commission, the <br />20 utility wildland fire prevention advisory committee, electric <br />21 utilities, the state fire marshal, the governor's office of Indian <br />22 affairs, and the public. By April 1, 2024, the department shall make <br />23 public a recommended format and list of elements for electric utility <br />24 wildfire mitigation plans. The department may update these guidelines <br />25 annually if needed, but not more than once in each year. <br />26 (2) The recommended elements must acknowledge that utilities <br />27 serve areas that vary in topography, vegetation, population, and <br />28 other characteristics, and that best practices guidelines within each <br />29 element must recognize that a utility's wildfire mitigation measures <br />30 will be designed to fit site -specific circumstances. The recommended <br />31 elements must include, but are not limited to: <br />32 (a) Vegetation management along transmission and distribution <br />33 lines and near associated equipment; <br />34 (b) Infrastructure inspection and maintenance repair activities, <br />35 schedules, and recordkeeping; <br />36 (c) Modifications or upgrades to facilities and construction of <br />37 new facilities to incorporate cost-effective measures to minimize <br />38 fire risk; <br />p. 2 2SHB 1032.SL <br />