1. An electric utility shall, on or before June 1, 2020, and on or before June 1 of every third year thereafter, in the manner specified by the Commission, submit a natural disaster protection plan to the Commission.

2. A natural disaster protection plan submitted to the Commission pursuant to subsection 1 must:

(a) Identify areas within the service territory of the electric utility that are subject to a heightened threat of a fire or other natural disaster.

(b) Propose an approach for the mitigation of potential fires or other natural disasters that is cost effective, prudent and reasonable.

(c) Describe the preventive measures and programs the electric utility will implement to minimize the risk of its electric infrastructure causing a fire.

(d) Describe the participation of the electric utility, including, without limitation, any commitments made, in any community wildfire protection plans, as defined in 16 U.S.C. § 6511, established in this State.

(e) Propose protocols for de-energizing distribution lines and disabling reclosers on those lines in the event of a fire or other natural disaster. Such protocols must consider the associated impact of such actions on public safety and mitigate any adverse impact on public safety plans, including, without limitation, impact on critical first responders and on health and communication infrastructure.

(f) Describe the procedures the electric utility intends to use to inspect the electric infrastructure of the electric utility.

(g) Describe the procedures the electric utility intends to use for vegetation management.

(h) Describe the procedures the electric utility intends to use to restore its distribution system in the event of a natural disaster.

(i) Demonstrate that the natural disaster protection plan is consistent with the emergency response plan submitted by the electric utility pursuant to NRS 239C.270.

(j) Describe the ability of the electric utility to implement the natural disaster protection plan and identify additional funding needed for the implementation of the plan.

3. The procedures, protocols and measures set forth in a natural disaster protection plan submitted pursuant to subsection 1 must comply with all applicable requirements of the most recent version of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, published by the International Code Council or its successor organization, including, without limitation, the requirements relating to clearances set forth in Appendix A of the Code. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an electric utility from setting forth in a natural disaster response plan procedures, protocols and measures that are more restrictive than those set forth in the Code.

4. The Commission shall adopt regulations to provide for the method and schedule for preparing, submitting, reviewing and approving a plan submitted pursuant to subsection 1.

5. An electric utility whose natural disaster protection plan has been approved by the Commission in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Commission pursuant to subsection 4 shall provide a copy of the approved plan to the chief officer of each fire department and each state, city and county emergency manager within the service territory of the electric utility.

6. All prudent and reasonable expenditures made by an electric utility to develop and implement a plan submitted pursuant to subsection 1 must be recovered as a separate monthly rate charged to the customers of the electric utility. The electric utility shall designate the amount charged to each customer as a separate line item on the bill of the customer.

7. A rural electric cooperative established pursuant to chapter 81 of NRS may submit to the Commission a natural disaster protection plan containing the information set forth in subsection 2. The Commission shall review a plan submitted by a rural electric cooperative and provide advice and recommendations. The board of directors of a rural electric cooperative may allow the rural electric cooperative to recover expenditures made to develop and implement a natural disaster protection plan from the rates charged to the customers of the rural electric cooperative.

8. As used in this section, “electric utility” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.7571.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 555)