This program will bring together senior leaders responsible for wildfire planning and mitigation strategies at WEI member companies for an interactive peer to peer session. We will focus on sharing and discussing best practices around strategies for planning, operations, technology and various other tactics to mitigate and plan for wildfires.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Richard Veihl, Fire Science and Coordination Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric
- Program Location
- San Diego Gas & Electric
- 8326 Century Park Court, San Diego, California 92123
- Who Should Attend
Directors and senior leaders responsible for their energy company’s wildfire planning and mitigation strategies.
- Registration Options
Member: $499 USD
Registration includes digital materials and access to all event sessions and meals listed on the agenda.
- General Cancellation Policy
- Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
- Participation Policy
- Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
- For more information contact Amy Carlow, Program Manager at (971) 303-1716.
Agenda
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Registration + Networking
Arrive early to check in and network with peers.
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Welcome + Introductions
Facilitator(s): Richie Veihl, Fire Science and Coordination Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
The Program Chair will welcome the group and kickoff roundtable introductions. Come prepared to introduce yourself and share a recent success story and any challenges you and your team are facing right now.
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
PG&E's Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings Testing and Field Performance
Speaker(s): James Tuccillo, Manager, Distribution Engineering, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Hear about PG&E’s latest research efforts and lessons learned that can be applied to distribution protection initiatives for wildfire risk mitigation.
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Wildfire Mitigation, an Evolving Imperative
Speaker(s): Randy Lyle, Principal, Wildfire Mitigation Strategies, Scott Lindsay, President, BKI Engineering Services (BKI) and Utility Resource Collaborative (URC)
Now that utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMP) are more prevalent and more states are following California in creating WMP requirements, industry trends are becoming more clear. Attend this session for a refresher on the drivers for the establishment of WMPs and the anatomy of a “typical” WMP. After discussing the foundation of how we got here, we will explore industry trends and see where wildfire mitigation is heading… And why WMPs are an evolving imperative in today’s climate. Scott Lindsay will provide a high-level overview while Randy Lyle will chime in with anecdotes and real-world experiences related to wildfire.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hosted Networking Dinner
Join us for a WEI hosted networking dinner:
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Central
8651 Spectrum Center Blvd
San Diego, California 92123
Thursday, March 9, 2023
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Networking Breakfast
Join us for breakfast hosted by WEI at our SDG&E meeting room.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Compliance + Risk Metrics
Moderator(s): Bill Messner, Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Resiliency, Portland General Electric
Panelist(s): Jon Axtman, T&D Engineering and Reliability Senior Manager, Idaho Power Company, John Stoll, Managing Director, Customer Utilities, Chelan County PUD, Joe Vaccaro, Wildfire Mitigation Metrics and Measures Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Jason D'Cunha, Sustainment Programs Engineer, BC Hydro
The panel will explore the respective journeys of developing wildfire mitigation and compliance metrics from a spectrum of utilities. This discussion will begin with those that are in their initial stages and end with those that are further along in this journey. The outcome of this discussion should give insight to the complexities of identifying meaningful metrics that can inform decision making.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Networking Break
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Community Outreach and Engagement: PSPS, Preparedness and Resilience
Speaker(s): Allison Torres, Sr. Communications Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Robyn Brookshire, Sr. Community Resilience Advisor, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
SDG&E has been growing their community education and outreach program since 2018 after the first initiated Public Safety Power Shutoff. Since then, they have developed innovative ways to engage and support customers and community members before, during and after a PSPS events or other emergency situations. While doing so, SDG&E has also formed strategic partnerships which help deepen their connection with the communities they serve. This discussion will give the audience insight on how their program was developed and matured into a critical tool used during weather driven utility outages.
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Networking Lunch
Visit SDG&E's cafe and network with peers over lunch.
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
Wrap Up + Future Planning
The meeting will conclude with a brief wrap-up as we set our sights on the Spring 2024 meeting.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Weather Technology – SDG&E’s Gold Standard and How You Can Learn From It + Tour
Speaker(s): Chris Arends, Meteorology Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Randy Lyle, Principal, Wildfire Mitigation Strategies, Thomas Porter, Title Director, Emergency Management, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Jonathan Woldemariam, Director of Wildfire Mitigation, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Richie Veihl, Fire Science and Coordination Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
SDG&E experts will share their weather monitoring and forecasting technology and how it is making a difference in wildfire prevention and mitigation planning. This session will also explore lessons learned by SDG&E along the way and how their path can help utilities of all sizes and risk profiles identify weather monitoring and forecasting technologies that could work for them. This presentation will be followed by a “tour” of SDG&E’s state of the art Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Hotel + Travel
- Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Central
- 8651 Spectrum Center Blvd
- San Diego, California 92123
- Phone: 858-573-0700
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (888) 236-2427 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $159 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until February 14, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.