(1) By October 31, 2024, and every three years thereafter, each consumer-owned utility must review, if appropriate revise, and adopt its wildfire mitigation plan. When reviewing or revising a wildfire mitigation plan, a consumer-owned utility must use the recommended format and elements pursuant to RCW 76.04.185.

(a) The governing board of each consumer-owned utility shall review the plan. Local fire protection districts must be provided the opportunity to provide input. After the governing board’s review, the utility must provide a copy to the department of natural resources, along with a list and description of wildland fires involving utility equipment within its customer service area over the previous two years as reported by the department of natural resources. The plan must be submitted to the utility wildland fire prevention advisory committee created in RCW 76.04.780 to be posted on their website as specified in RCW 76.04.780.

(b) The department of natural resources is not responsible for a consumer-owned utility’s implementation of its wildfire mitigation plan. The department’s review of the consumer-owned utility’s wildfire mitigation plan and any recommendations associated with the review do not constitute a reasonableness review or approval of recovery of any measure, investment, cost, or other component of the plan.

(c) Consumer-owned utilities are encouraged to submit any 2023 wildfire mitigation plans to the utility wildland fire prevention advisory committee created in RCW 76.04.780 prior to the revision date required in this subsection.

(2) Two or more abutting consumer-owned utilities may codevelop a wildfire mitigation plan. Wildfire mitigation plans that are codeveloped by more than one utility may identify areas of common implementation, including communication protocols, that will assist in implementing the identified recommended elements pursuant to RCW 76.04.185.

(3) Nothing in this section prohibits a consumer-owned utility from reviewing or updating its wildfire mitigation plan more often than required in subsection (1) of this section.

Findings—Intent—2023 c 132: See note following RCW 76.04.185.