Idaho Power 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Approved Under WSCA
Summary
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued Order No. 37004 approving Idaho Power's 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan under the Wildfire Standard of Care Act. The plan addresses risk identification, mitigation strategies, vegetation management, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response protocols. Under WSCA, utilities that reasonably implement Commission-approved WMPs receive a presumption of non-negligence in wildfire-related lawsuits.
What changed
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued Order No. 37004 approving Idaho Power's 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. The plan covers software for wildfire risk identification, situational awareness enhancements, transmission line design methods to reduce ignition potential, wildfire risk zones, vegetation management, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response protocols.
Investor-owned electric utilities subject to WSCA should ensure their WMPs address all required elements including risk assessment, mitigation strategies, community outreach, operational practices, and emergency response. Utilities implementing Commission-approved plans benefit from a presumption of non-negligence if a wildfire results in litigation.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates on WMP implementation requirements
- Review plan details at puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7640
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Case No. IPC-E-25-32 Order No. 37004 Contact: Adam Rush Office: (208) 334-0339 E-mail Address: adam.rush@puc.idaho.gov NEWS RELEASE: Commission issues order approving electric utility's wildfire mitigation plan.
BOISE (April 14, 2026) - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has issued an order approving
Idaho Power's 2026 wildfire mitigation plan (WMP). The plan includes information on steps the utility is taking to reduce the risk of wildfires. Electric utilities file the plans with the Commission pursuant to the Wildfire Standard of Care Act (WSCA). The WSCA requires the Commission to annually approve WMPs for investor- owned utilities. Under the WSCA, if a wildfire results in a lawsuit against an electric utility, there is the presumption the utility acted without negligence if it reasonably implemented a Commission-approved WMP. Idaho Power's 2026 plan includes information on the use of software to identify wildfire risk, efforts to enhance the utility's wildfire situational awareness and how design methods for new transmission lines and upgrades of existing lines will help reduce wildfire ignition potential in heightened risk areas. The plan also includes information on wildfire risk zones, procedural and personnel measures designed to help employees prevent wildfires and efforts to educate the public about wildfire mitigation, among other items. The Commission issued its order approving the plan on April 14, 2026. It determined Idaho Power's WMP adequately addressed the required elements, including risk identification and assessment, mitigation strategies, community outreach, vegetation management, infrastructure inspection and maintenance, operational practices and emergency response protocols. The Commission also determined the utility's WMP is consistent with the public interest and takes into account the protection of public health, safety and welfare, the feasibility of proposed mitigation efforts and the anticipated costs of implementing the plan. Additional information is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7640.
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