On June 27th, Xcel Energy filed a significant update to its Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) for PUC approval. The updated WMP addresses Xcel Energy’s full suite of mitigation activities and investments, such as: targeted equipment inspections, repairs, and replacements; expanded vegetation management; system protection enhancements; weather and wind modeling; and community and stakeholder outreach. The updated plan covers proposed spending for the 2025-2027 period totaling approximately $1.9 billion.
As described by Xcel Energy, its updated WMP features:
- Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Program for when portions of the transmission and distribution systems are de-energized to avoid risk of wildfire ignitions. Xcel Energy proposes to assist its income-qualified, medical exemption rate, and medical certification program customers through the offering of new rebates for back-up energy support.
- Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) Program using sectionalized protective devices to operate the system more conservatively when wildfire conditions increase. The EPSS program is being expanded to include additional risk-based feeders, installation of new sectionalizing protective equipment, and deployment of new technology.
- Expanded Situational Awareness with expanded expertise and new weather stations in higher risk locations and the deployment of AI cameras.
- Expanded and Refined Wildfire Vegetation Management with the goals of reducing the frequency and potential of vegetation-caused outages and ignitions and reducing the consequence of severe weather events.
- Infrastructure Inspections using drone technology for defect and maintenance inspections, a comprehensive asset registry in high-fire threat areas, and three-dimensional maps of the equipment, the surrounding terrain, and nearby vegetation.
- Expanded Stakeholder Engagement including outreach and communication efforts to customers, OEMs, public safety partners, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and community organizations.
- Xcel Energy’s complete filing and all other related documents are publicly available through the PUC’s website (E-Filings) in Proceeding No. 24A-0296. In addition, several key portions of the plan are available here:
Updated WMP (link to attachment AZS-1)
Proposed 2025-2027 WMP Budget (link to attachment AZS-3)
This is a large and complex filing that will be before the PUC for the next several months as we examine each request for approval and hear from stakeholders. Specific dates and opportunities for public comment will be determined as the full procedural schedule is set. Written comments may be submitted anytime through the PUC’s website.