Unique conversations
Mary Kipp is the CEO of Puget Sound Energy. Paul Kjellander is PUF Senior Advisor and former Idaho PUC Chair.
Financial liability can be massive with wildfires and must be considered in an era of increased electric demand that also emphasizes affordability. As these big issues surrounding wildfires are raging, PUF spoke with four leaders on this important topic: Puget Sound Energy CEO Mary Kipp, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion, Pacific Power President Ryan Flynn, and Rocky Mountain Power President Dick Garlish.
PUF's Paul Kjellander: Catastrophic wildfires have become higher profile events. What's different now?
Mary Kipp: Wildfire has always been with us. What's different now are the impacts of climate change, land and forest management practices, urban sprawl, and a variety of other factors, causing wildfires to spread more quickly and broadly than in the past.
Additionally, while the cause is a confluence of events, wildfires are being viewed as a utility-caused event. In reality, they're a societal event and a risk all of us need to be focused on mitigating.