Collaborative Wildfire Planning for Smaller Utilities

Climate change and expanding development in wildland areas have made wildfires a year-round concern in many regions. Studies show that even a 1°C rise in temperature can lead to a dramatic increase (potentially up to 600% more area burned in certain forests) in wildfire activity. No longer are wildfires only a problem for big utilities in California––rural co-ops and city utilities with surrounding dry, forested areas are at risk too. Yet these smaller power providers often have far fewer resources to tackle the problem. Large investor-owned utilities (IOUs) might spend hundreds of millions of dollars hardening their grids, whereas a cooperative’s entire annual budget may be a fraction of that.  

The key challenges for small utilities include limited budgets, small workforces, and bureaucratic hurdles. Every dollar must count, and every crew member wears multiple hats. Permitting and environmental regulations can delay critical work (for instance, obtaining approvals to clear vegetation or replace lines on federal lands). Despite these challenges, smaller utilities are not powerless––by being strategic and collaborative, they can deploy scaled-down versions of big utility solutions that substantially cut wildfire risks. 

Collaborate regionally to share costs and expertise

When it comes to wildfire mitigation, there is strength in numbers, an especially important principle for smaller utilities. Large IOUs benefit from economies of scale; likewise, co-ops and munis can band together to achieve scale efficiencies and tackle common challenges. Regional collaboration can take many forms, all of which help stretch resources further: 

Joint procurement and projects

Neighboring utilities can coordinate to bulk-buy equipment or services. For example, several co-ops might jointly contract a tree trimming crew for a month, splitting travel costs, or collectively order miles of covered conductor at a volume discount. In one notable case, eight rural co-ops in South Dakota collaborated on a comprehensive wildfire hardening project, jointly securing a federal grant of $33.7 million to fund the work. By teaming up, they were able to underground nearly 100 miles of lines, replace hundreds of reclosers and thousands of fuses, and develop a shared wildfire prevention tool––improvements no single small co-op could likely afford alone. This kind of consortium approach is a game changer for capital-intensive mitigation efforts. 

Mutual aid and workforce sharing

Just as utilities lend crews to each other after storms, they can do the same for preventative work. One city utility could lend its certified arborist to a rural neighbor for a week to identify hazard trees, while the rural co-op might reciprocate with linemen labor to help the city utility install new switches. Cooperatives, through their state or regional associations, often facilitate this type of resource sharing. Additionally, training and expertise can be shared, if one municipal utility has developed a great wildfire mitigation plan or GIS risk model, they can host a workshop or webinar for others in the region to learn from their experience. Collective problem-solving accelerates learning curves for all. 

Regional planning and coordination

Fire does not respect utility boundaries. It’s wise to coordinate mitigation efforts on a regional basis when possible. Small utilities can partner with each other and with local agencies (fire departments, forestry services) to align their strategies. For instance, several utilities in a high-risk county could synchronize their vegetation management schedules, ensuring there are no gaps along county-wide corridors. They could also pool funds to install a network of weather stations or wildfire cameras covering the region, which all participants use for early warning and decision making. In Washington state, even before it was required, some public power utilities like Seattle City Light voluntarily participated in developing wildfire mitigation plans and coordinating with state agencies––demonstrating proactive regional engagement. 

Advocacy and grants

By presenting a united front, small utilities can influence policy and unlock funding. Associations like the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and American Public Power Association (APPA) have been actively lobbying for more federal support and streamlined regulations on behalf of their members. NRECA, along with other industry groups, has urged federal agencies to expedite permits and vegetation clearance on public lands and to provide grants for grid hardening. These efforts are paying off––under the new Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program in the infrastructure law, dozens of co-ops have been awarded or are in line for funding to accelerate wildfire mitigation projects. A small utility should leverage its membership in these associations or regional coalitions to pursue every funding opportunity together. Writing a grant application or developing new standards can be daunting alone, but collectively, small utilities can secure resources that make big improvements possible. 

In short, no utility must tackle wildfire mitigation alone. By collaborating with peers, smaller utilities gain access to a broader pool of ideas, expertise, and financial support. Whether it’s a formal mutual-aid agreement, a joint infrastructure project, or simply an informal network to compare notes on the latest prevention technology, these partnerships amplify what each utility can do. Wildfire risk is a shared problem in many regions, solving it is a shared responsibility that becomes easier when utilities work together. 

Overcoming budget, workforce, and permitting hurdles 

It’s clear that rural co-ops and municipal utilities are adopting creative strategies to mitigate wildfires. But to implement any of these measures––whether installing covered wire or upgrading reclosers––they must navigate practical constraints. The three big hurdles are usually money, manpower, and red tape. Let’s address each with ideas for overcoming them:

Limited budgets

Small utilities often operate with slim margins, so financing wildfire projects is challenging. A key solution is to tap external funding and spread-out costs over time. Proactively seek state and federal grants dedicated to grid resilience (the U.S. Dept. ofEnergy’s recent resilience grants are a prime example, with many co-ops receiving awards). Also consider low-interest loans from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture rural utility programs or state infrastructure banks for capital improvements; safety investments can often be justified under reliability criteria. Where possible, phase major projects into multi-year plans. For instance, instead of trying to harden 50 miles of line all at once, do 5–10 miles each year, focusing on the highest priority sections first. This pay-as-you-go approach can align with annual budget cycles and allows adjustment if better technologies emerge. Don’t overlook community support either: since co-ops and munis are member-owned, members might support small rate increases or special assessments if clearly earmarked for wildfire safety upgrades that protect the community. Transparency and communication are key––show stakeholders the risk and the plan to reduce it cost-effectively. Often, preventing a devastating fire is far cheaper than the fallout of one, an argument that can help justify investments.

Workforce and expertise

Many small utilities have a tiny staff––some co-ops might have a dozen line workers to cover thousands of square miles. Specialized skills (like system protection engineering or forestry management) may not be on staff at all. To overcome this, leverage partnerships and technology. Small utilities use regional mutual aid agreements not just post-disaster, but for planned mitigation work––e.g., trading crews with a neighbor for a week as discussed earlier. Hiring contractors for tasks like LiDAR surveying or tree trimming is often necessary; when doing so, try to schedule work in coordination with other local utilities to share travel and mobilization costs. Cross-training employees can also multiply effectiveness: linemen can be trained to do basic arborist assessments; engineers can learn new wildfire modeling software via workshops. For expertise gaps, lean on resources from industry associations (NRECA, APPA) which publish wildfire mitigation guides and templates for small utilities. Statewide utility task forces or working groups can also be a source of expert guidance. Another force multiplier is deploying labor-saving technologies––for example, using drones, LiDAR, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence (AI) to inspect lines (reducing person-hours spent patrolling tough terrain), or installing remote-controlled devices as described, which save crews long drives to flip switches. In essence, maximize the impact of the people you do have by giving them better tools and support. And when in doubt, ask for help––the cooperative spirit in this industry means even investor-owned neighbors might lend technical advice if approached.

Permitting and regulatory hurdles

A significant challenge, especially for rural utilities, is dealing with multiple government agencies to get approval for mitigation work. Many co-ops operate in or around federal lands (National Forests, BLM land, etc.), which often means lengthy processes to remove trees or replace lines. Streamlining permitting is critical to speed up hazard reduction. Small utilities should proactively build relationships with local forestry officials and county regulators––invite them to see your system and understand the wildfire risks firsthand. Early and frequent communication can sometimes expedite approvals or at least avoid surprises. Engage in any collaborative forums between utilities and land management agencies. For example, NRECA has advocated for expanding the use of master agreements with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to cover routine vegetation management and line maintenance across multiple areas. If such a master permit is available in your region, make sure your utility is covered under it, this can eliminate the need for case-by-case permits for every tree trim or pole replacement. Similarly, push for programmatic environmental reviews that cover a suite of mitigation actions in bulk. In the meantime, frame your projects in terms of public safety––a strong case can sometimes be made to regulators that expedited action is in the best interest of protecting communities from fire. Finally, ensure your wildfire mitigation plan is well documented and aligns with any state requirements, as having a formally approved plan can give smaller utilities more leeway to act decisively (and legally) when conditions demand.

Consider this practical example for a permitting workaround, in which some utilities have found creative solutions to work within permit constraints. For instance, if burying a line is delayed due to environmental review, a co-op might install covered conductor on the existing poles as an interim safety measure (often permissible as standard maintenance), rather than waiting years for an underground permit. Others have negotiated “fast-track” agreements to cut vegetation on federal land near their lines during extreme fire danger, essentially pre-authorizing certain actions when specific thresholds (like a declared emergency) are met. The lesson is to be both persistent and innovative in navigating red tape––don’t take a denial as the end, but rather as something to work around through partnership or alternative methods.

Conclusion: Be strategic and collaborative for wildfire planning

Smaller utilities may not have the deep pockets of the big investor-owned companies, but as we’ve seen, they are far from helpless in the face of wildfire threat. By focusing on high-impact areas and actions, a rural cooperative can harden its most vulnerable lines with covered conductors or selective undergrounding, vastly reducing ignition likelihood. By using data smartly, a municipal utility can prioritize the fixes that matter most, tackling the specific poles, equipment, wildlife and vegetation issues that create outsized risk. By tweaking and upgrading grid controls, even a tiny utility can emulate the sophisticated wildfire protection settings of larger utilities, stopping faults before they spark disasters. And by joining forces with fellow utilities and agencies, what is unattainable alone becomes achievable together––whether it’s securing funding for major projects, sharing skilled personnel, or pushing for beneficial policy changes.