North Dakota § 49-25-03 - Wildfire mitigation plan

§ 49-25-03. Wildfire mitigation plan

1. A qualified utility may prepare a wildfire mitigation plan in accordance with this chapter. 2. A wildfire mitigation plan under this section must include a description of: a. Areas within the service territory of the qualified utility which may be subject to a heightened risk of wildfire; b. The procedures, standards, and time frames the qualified utility will use to safely and reliably operate and inspect its infrastructure affected by hazardous vegetation; c. The procedures and standards the qualified utility will use to perform vegetation management; d. The modifications or upgrades to facilities and preventative programs the qualified utility will implement to reduce the risk of its electric facilities initiating a wildfire; e. Procedures for disabling reclosers to mitigate potential wildfires taking into consideration: (1) The ability of the qualified utility to reasonably disable reclosers and access the proposed power line if it becomes de-energized; (2) The balance of the risk of wildfire with the need for continued supply of electricity to a community; and (3) Any potential impact to public safety, first responders, and health and communication infrastructure; f. Procedures the qualified utility intends to use to restore its electrical system in the event of a wildfire; g. The costs for implementation of the plan, including system improvements and upgrades; h. Community outreach and public awareness efforts before and during a wildfire season; and i. Potential participation with state or local wildfire protection or mitigation plans. 3. The procedures and standards under this section must be compliant with the American national standards institute standard A300, part 7, and the 2023 national electrical safety code.