Utilities increasingly face challenges from climate change and extreme weather.  Billions of dollars will be needed to create T&D systems resilient enough to perform in these harsh conditions.  Justifying the major investments needed requires a clear understanding of the ability to buy down risk and improve resilience.

This session will explore the use of climate science in utility planning and investment decision making, providing real-world examples of how utilities are translating climate science into information they can use in their business today. The discussion will then drill down into wildfire forecasting and how utilities can better understand and predict the chaotic nature of weather and the vast number of complex data sets required to accurately predict wildfire forecasting. The Fire Prevention Index Model is a promising solution that not only aims to end catastrophic fires but also prevents them from occurring.

Key Takeaways:

• Climate science can inform risk assessment and investment planning
• Specific examples of how utilities are incorporating forward-looking climate information on gradual change and extremes into their asset management, planning, and operations, as well as how they are supporting climate resilience investments.
• Wildfire modeling helps with both response and prevention
• Applications and uses of wildfire modeling for utilities of any size or geographical region