In a recent House State Affairs committee hearing, Rep. Ken King (R‑Canadian) highlighted the slow rollout of wildfire mitigation plans required by House Bill 145. The law, passed last year, obligates utilities operating in fire‑prone areas to file detailed response strategies with the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Compliance numbers remain low
Out of roughly 160 utility companies serving high‑risk regions of Texas, only eight have filed the mandated plans. Four additional utilities have provided the PUC with a filing date, while 135 say they are still preparing their submissions. Thirteen utilities have not communicated any timeline.
Legislative and agency response
King, who led the effort to enact the law after the devastating Smokehouse Creek wildfires of 2024, expressed disappointment. “I’m very, very disappointed with the industry,” he told the committee, adding that January is the deadline for any outstanding filings.
Connie Corona, director of the PUC, explained that the commission has created a model mitigation plan to help smaller utilities develop their own documents. “We’ve asked for a heads‑up notice of when the utility plans to file, and try to ensure that meets with the resources we have available,” Corona said.
Utility actions on the ground
Brad Baldridge, interim president of Southwestern Public Service Company (operating as Xcel Energy), said his company submitted its plan last month after a brief delay caused by rapid vegetation growth. Xcel has also deployed 97 AI‑powered wildfire detection cameras and uses Public Safety Power Shutoffs to turn off electricity in extreme conditions. Since 2024, the company has executed five power shutoffs.
Mark Bell, CEO of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas, noted that many utilities are adopting remote cameras, sensors, and aggressive vegetation management. He expects all plans to be filed by year‑end and reported that five utilities have already filed, with another scheduled for October.
Impact on the 2026 fire season
The state’s wildfire season remains active. Texas Division of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd reported more than 1,200 fires since the start of the year. The Ross Fire, the second‑largest in North Texas history, was finally contained after three weeks of fighting.
Rancher Craig Cowden, whose Panhandle property suffered a 20,000‑acre loss in 2024, said recent utility upgrades give him confidence. “You can tell they’re making a conscious effort to try to upgrade their infrastructure,” he observed.
Looking ahead
King warned that the September deadline leaves little time for the remaining utilities to comply before the January cutoff. “When eight out of 160 have complied, and we’re sitting here in September, that doesn’t sound like a very good response to me,” he said.
The PUC plans to require utilities to submit detailed pole and maintenance inventories by January, outlining asset locations and ages. Lawmakers indicated they will monitor the filing process closely and consider further action if compliance does not improve.
As Texas continues to grapple with a demanding fire season, the combined efforts of legislators, regulators, and utility companies aim to reduce the risk of electrical ignitions and protect families, farms, and communities across the state.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
