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)
- Dave James, Wildfire Resiliency Program Manager, Avista Corp.
- Program Location
- Virtual Event
- No travel required. All agenda times are in Pacific time. Instructions to access the virtual event will be provided to the attendee before the program.
- Who Should Attend
Directors and senior leaders responsible for their energy companies wildfire planning and mitigation strategies.
- Registration Options
Member: $199 USD
Registration includes access to forum sessions, meeting materials and roster.
- General Cancellation Policy
- To best serve WEI members and program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, WEI will be waiving its standard cancellation policy for this virtual program. Registrants can receive a full refund should they need to cancel their registration up to the day before the program begins.
- 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 Jessica Grant, Program Manager at (971) 255-4970.
Agenda
All session times are listed in Pacific time.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check
The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Welcome + Introductions
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Managing the Risk of Wildfires: Making the Case for Fundamental Change
Speaker(s): Greg Hesler, VP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Ethics/Compliance Officer, Avista Corp.
Hear why utilities need a wildfire plan and how to navigate the liability landscape of wildfires.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Working with Fire Protection Agencies: Before, During + After an Event
Speaker(s): Angie Lane, Assistant Division Manager, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, JB Brock, Emergency Services Manager, Union County
Learn how fire protection agencies are structured and what they need from their utility partners; before, during and after an event. This panel will include perspectives from Oregon and Washington.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
The Utility’s Role After an Event: Navigating Liability + Remediation Landscape
Speaker(s): Paul Kimmell, Regional Business Manager, Palouse, Avista Utilities
Understand the utility’s role following a catastrophic wildfire. Malden, Washington – September 2020
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Break
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
A Practitioner's Guide to Fire Risk Modeling
Speaker(s): Bruce Blackwell, Principal, M.Sc., RPF, R.P.Bio., B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd., Jay Landstrom, Sr. Manager Wildfire Analytics, Portland General Electric, Darin Johnson, President, BIS Consulting, LLC
Wildfire risk modelling for utilities is a rapidly developing field. This session will explore different approaches that can inform mitigation strategies.
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
The Wildfire Journey + System Protection Roundtable
Moderator(s): Jack Shearman, CEO, UMS Group Inc.
Speaker(s): Dene Ward, Network Risk & Assurance Manager, Powercor Australia, Cameron McPherson, Sr. Manager, Key Initiatives & New Technology, Southern California Edison, Joe Lake, Senior Associate, IWRMC Program Manager, UMS Group Inc., Jeff Shiles, Principal Manager, Protection & Automation Engineering, Southern California Edison, Caroline Miller, Sr Advisor, Grid Resiliency, Southern California Edison
In this session we will hear about the wildfire journeys of two major utilities from Australia and California. The session will conclude with a roundtable Q&A focused on System Protection Strategies for mitigating wildfire risk.
Topics covered in the wildfire journey presentations will include historical context for each utility (fires experienced, changes over the last several years, etc.); the state of the regulatory environment in each region; organizational triggers for expanding focus on wildfire mitigation; challenges encountered and advances made; most important areas of focus for each company today; and ways for the industry to come together in the pursuit of continuous improvement.
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Wrap Up + Future Planning
Provide input about what content should be part of the 2022 Forum.