Analysis of Wildfire Ignition Incidents caused by Electric Power Distribution Lines

Currently, there is an urgent need for increased risk assessments and safety analytics for powerline electric safety incidents, particularly for ones that cause wildfire ignitions. The lack of this analytics makes the assessments of investor-owned utilities (IOUs) mitigation measures to prevent or minimize powerline caused wildfires extremely difficult and at times, inconclusive. Forensic analysis of electric safety incidents should construct electrical models based on investigative data, photos, and any other related information. The key questions addressed by this panel are:
• How to electrically model wildfire ignitions caused by powerlines.
• Actual forensic analysis/electrical modeling of distribution electric safety incidents that caused wildfire ignitions.
• Protection scheme analysis to improve mitigation of powerline caused wildfire ignitions.