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644455F4B19AFC8A87258A1A00567582 Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

INTERIM COMMITTEE WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Aug 29, 2023
Location LSB A

Colorado Rural Electric Association - Committee Discussion Only


	09:44:24 AM	Tim Coleman, Director of Government Relations, Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), introduced CREA and gave an overview of what their organization does. He discussed how electric cooperatives are able to help wildfire mitigation efforts, as well as some of the barriers that electric cooperatives face in their mitigation efforts.
	09:48:25 AM	Virginia Harmon, General Manager, Mountain Parks Electric, introduced her electric cooperative and the areas it covers. She discussed the problems wildfires have caused in her region and the methods Mountain Park Electric is employing to mitigate wildfire risks. She explained that electric companies need permission to manage vegetation in their area to better mitigate wildfires.
	09:54:21 AM	Ms. Harmon responded to questions from the committee on Mountain Park Electric's efforts to underground power lines and the challanges that property rights-of-ways pose to managing vegetation.
	10:02:00 AM	Director Coleman discussed some of the issues with burying power lines and getting permission to manage vegetation on federal land.
	10:04:47 AM	John Hansen, Transmission Maintenance Technical Support Manager, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, gave a presentation on his organization and the importance of vegetation in wildfire mitigation practices. He discussed federal regulations on transmission lines that are aimed at wildfire prevention and how Tri-State Generation and Transmission is expanding their wildfire mitigation efforts. Their presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/tri-state_presentation_for_co_wildfire_matters_review_committee.pdf
	10:15:38 AM	Mr. Hansen and Director Coleman responded to questions from the committee on the wildfire risks for mobile home parks and what is being done in other states to prevent wildfires.
	10:20:58 AM	Holly Woodings, Mountain Area Manager, United Power, gave a presentation on the fire mitigation efforts that United Power is utilizing in mountain areas, including using covered conductors and current limiting fuses. Their presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/united_power_august_29.pdf
	10:31:45 AM	Ms. Woodings responded to questions from the committee on the use of mountain cameras to monitor wildfire prone areas and areas where new cameras are being placed.