To help utilities, states, and municipalities address growing wildfire risks, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) published Current Best Practices on Wildfire Risk Reduction for Electric Transmission and Distribution Systems, a comprehensive report outlining current best practices for wildfire planning, prevention, response, and recovery. 

Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, the report responds to Executive Order 14308, “Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response.” It highlights utility-led strategies for mitigating wildfire risks from electric transmission and distribution systems. This work underscores the urgent need for proactive investment in resilience as wildfire threats intensify across the nation.

Report at a Glance

This report offers a wealth of key utility practices, technologies, and policy considerations for addressing the growing wildfire risks facing electric transmission and distribution systems across the United States. 

• An overview of how and why wildfire risk from electric transmission and distribution systems is increasing across the United States.

• A synthesis of current wildfire risk reduction practices used by electric utilities nationwide.

• A three-phase framework for wildfire mitigation: pre-event, peri-event, and post-event actions.

• Current best practices for infrastructure hardening, system planning, and operational decision-making.
• Steps to take during the recovery phase, such as vegatation management, inspection, and after action reporting.

• Strategies for vegetation management and reducing ignition risk near power lines and equipment.

• The role of advanced technologies—monitoring, sensing, analytics, and AI—in wildfire risk management.

• Regulatory, policy, and Executive Order considerations shaping utility wildfire mitigation efforts.

• Cost, funding, and financial considerations associated with wildfire mitigation investments.

• Real-world utility examples and case studies highlighting effective wildfire risk reduction approaches.

Cite the Report

Coleman A., C.M. Chini, A.J. Catalano, S. Bhattacharya, V.H. Chalishazar, I. Gonzalez-Hirshfeld, and K.B. Larson, et al. 2025. Current Best Practices on Wildfire Risk Reduction for Electric Transmission and Distribution Systems. PNNL-38528. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.