AEIC Members Develop Risk Reduction Measures
Steve Hauser is CEO of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.
In 2024, there were nearly sixty-five thousand wildfires reported across the U.S., causing loss of life, consuming almost nine million acres of land, and destroying approximately forty-five hundred structures, including more than twenty-four hundred residential homes.
In addition, the damage to the electric grid is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, particularly in regions like California where major wildfires have impacted power lines and substations, causing extensive service disruptions and repairs to critical infrastructure.
The Los Angeles area wildfires in January, fueled by a devastating combination of extremely dry conditions and high winds, were among the most deadly and destructive fires in the state’s history. This is a growing national concern that is not expected to subside any time soon.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that, “multiple studies have found that climate change has already led to an increase in wildfire season length, wildfire frequency, and burned area. The wildfire season has lengthened in many areas due to factors including warmer springs, longer summer dry seasons, and drier soils and vegetation.”