Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric 

Coaching a Successful Team to Ramp Up Utility Fire Prevention

THE PROBLEM:

No electric grid operator ever wants a downed power line to start a fire. The impacts of drought and climate change have accelerated in the Western United States, as more and more populations move into areas of dense trees and tinder-dry fuel. The rules, standards and practices for electric grid operators have to quickly change.

THE CLIENT:

Portland General Electric (PGE) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, providing energy to 44 percent of the inhabitants of Oregon.

THE SOLUTION:

PGE is one of the many grid operators working hard to catch up to new climate conditions and new expectations. In one fierce windstorm over Labor Day weekend of 2020, the company shut off power to rural customers where there was danger of electrical lines falling or trees and vegetation being blown into live wires. While PGE was able to avoid any ignitions, other Oregon utilities were investigated for starting fires and are facing major lawsuits.

 When the Oregon Public Utilities Commission and the Oregon Legislature began to adopt new formal policies for wildfire prevention and tough new standards for electric utilities, PGE reached out to Caliber’s Michael Picker, who as President of the California Public Utilities Commission, worked on California rules for utility wildfire prevention. He helped PGE to respond to legislative and regulator questions and worked with PGE’s staff to draft a newly mandated Wildfire Management Plan, which was approved by the Oregon Public Utilities Commission.

CASE STUDY

TOPIC / KEYWORDS:

Wildfire Risk Mitigation, Resiliency, Energy Grid, Energy Policy, Government Advisors, Utility, Policy, Climate Change

QUICK FACTS:

PGE’s leadership, under Maria Pope, moved quickly to address fire risks in the Oregon utility’s service area.

Their new team sought to learn more about what did and didn’t work well in California’s efforts through consulting with Caliber.

PGE’s wildfire plans were accepted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission; local elected officials expressed their support.

caliber strat logo
CONTACT US
envelope - Contact Caliber Strat
Hope Fasching Headshot
Hope Fasching
Associate
Ms. Fasching is a green hydrogen policy expert and clean energy advocate, having spent several years working in clean energy consulting and policy development. Prior to joining Caliber, Ms. Fasching served as a Consultant and Senior Policy Analyst at Strategen, a clean energy strategy consulting firm, and also helped lead the Green Hydrogen Coalition. In this role, she worked extensively with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Air Resource Board (CARB) on various clean energy topics. She also tracked relevant clean energy legislation at the California State Legislature. Ms. Fasching also worked with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and other key stakeholders on California’s clean hydrogen hub. Ms. Fasching holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on energy policy and econometric analysis. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in Political Science.
Hope Fasching Headshot

Hope Fasching

Associate

Ms. Fasching is a green hydrogen policy expert and clean energy advocate, having spent several years working in clean energy consulting and policy development.

Prior to joining Caliber, Ms. Fasching served as a Consultant and Senior Policy Analyst at Strategen, a clean energy strategy consulting firm, and also helped lead the Green Hydrogen Coalition. In this role, she worked extensively with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Air Resource Board (CARB) on various clean energy topics. She also tracked relevant clean energy legislation at the California State Legislature. Ms. Fasching also worked with the Governor’s Office of usiness and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and other key stakeholders on California’s clean hydrogen hub.

Ms. Fasching holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on energy policy and econometric analysis. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in Political Science.

Hope Fasching Headshot

Hope Fasching

Associate

Ms. Fasching is a green hydrogen policy expert and clean energy advocate, having spent several years working in clean energy consulting and policy development. Prior to joining Caliber, Ms. Fasching served as a Consultant and Senior Policy Analyst at Strategen, a clean energy strategy consulting firm, and also helped lead the Green Hydrogen Coalition. In this role, she worked extensively with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Air Resource Board (CARB) on various clean energy topics. She also tracked relevant clean energy legislation at the California State Legislature. Ms. Fasching also worked with the Governor’s Office of usiness and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and other key stakeholders on California’s clean hydrogen hub. Ms. Fasching holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on energy policy and econometric analysis. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in Political Science.