09-27-2021 BPU RPT 11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 SUBJECT: RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN, VERSION 2 UPDATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE SECTION 8387 FOR SUBMITTAL TO THE WILDFIRE SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD ISSUE: Consider approval of the Riverside Public Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Plan, Version 2 Update in accordance with California Public Utilities Code Section 8387 for submittal to the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council approve the 2021 Riverside Public Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Plan, Version 2 update in accordance with California Public Utilities Code Section 8387 for submittal to the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. BACKGROUND: The Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) is prepared to meet the standards set forth in Section 8387 of the Public Utilities Code. Senate Bill (SB) 901 amended Section 8387 of the Public Utilities Code when it passed in September 2018. The new code section tasked all private and publicly owned utilities and corporations, among other actions, to construct, maintain, and operate their electrical system in a manner that minimizes the risk of wildfire. To ensure that each utility addressed the risk of their electric systems causing a wildfire, several requirements were put in place and are summarized here: 1. All utilities, public and private, are required to prepare a WMP and update the plan annually. 2. A prescriptive list of required elements for the WMP is identified and must be addressed by each utility. 3. The utility must have their WMP reviewed and assessed for comprehensiveness by an independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure. 4. Both the WMP and the report issued by the independent evaluator must be presented at a public meeting of the util governing board. 5.