Colorado Proposed Three-Year Wildfire Mitigation Plan Rules
State utility operators will face new mandates to formalize wildfire prevention and power shutoff plans every three years.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Utilities
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The Colorado Public Utilities Commission proposed a new requirement for utilities to submit wildfire mitigation and public safety power shutoff plans on a three-year cycle. These rules target major providers, including Black Hills Energy and the Public Service Company of Colorado.
Why it matters
The proposal aims to standardize how utilities assess infrastructure risks and communicate preventive measures to the public. By formalizing these filings, the state seeks to increase oversight of equipment-related fire hazards.
Colorado is moving to join the 9 states that currently require utilities to file wildfire mitigation plans. This mirrors recent regulatory shifts in Texas, where only 8 of the 161 total utilities have submitted plans since requirements began last year.
The players
Colorado Public Utilities Commission
The state agency responsible for regulating utility rates, service standards, and safety requirements.
Public Service Company of Colorado
A major utility provider operating as a subsidiary of Xcel Energy that currently serves the state.
Black Hills Energy
A regional utility company providing electricity and natural gas services across multiple states.
The details
The proposed rules would mandate that Black Hills Energy and the Public Service Company of Colorado provide formal, recurring documentation to the commission. The reports must explicitly detail public safety power shutoff procedures and equipment risk mitigation strategies. The Public Service Company of Colorado has voluntarily filed such plans since 2020, while Black Hills Energy most recently updated its plan in June.
Timeline
2020: The Public Service Company of Colorado began filing voluntary mitigation plans.
June 2026: Black Hills Energy provided its most recent wildfire mitigation plan update.
2025: Texas implemented its own wildfire mitigation plan requirements for utilities.
Market Landscape
The Colorado proposal follows the pattern set by the 2025 Texas wildfire mitigation plan submission mandate, which aimed to increase transparency among a large number of disparate service providers. The shift highlights a broader regional trend toward formalizing utility-led wildfire prevention.
Operators in the utility sector should monitor the commission's comment period to understand the technical requirements for these three-year cycles. Businesses relying on utility infrastructure should prepare for potential operational adjustments related to scheduled public safety power shutoffs.
The takeaway
The move toward a mandatory three-year filing cycle forces a higher degree of planning transparency on major state utilities. Affected companies should treat this as a signal to audit their own equipment-safety documentation against the growing number of state-mandated reporting standards.
Further reading
For more on regulatory updates, visit Utilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy Central.
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