Montana Legislators offer utilities looser liability laws in exchange for increased wildfire mitigation strategies
The Montana House has unanimously passed legislation to enforce stricter wildfire mitigation standards and reduce liability for utility companies and cooperatives.
House Bill 490 requires all electric utilities to prepare and follow a wildfire mitigation plan detailing the company’s strategies for inspecting and updating electric facilities and maintaining vegetation in utility rights-of-way.
Utility companies that “substantially followed” an approved wildfire mitigation plan may not be found civilly liable for damages resulting from a wildfire.
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