Co‑hosts Nick Ferguson and Steve Cieslewicz sit down with Chris Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager at Austin Energy, to unpack how a municipal utility in Central Texas is building a modern wildfire program. Chris traces his career path from California to Texas, then walks through the region’s often‑overlooked wildfire risks and how they differ from the West Coast model. The conversation explores Austin Energy’s preparation for potential state requirements around utility wildfire mitigation plans, the role of technology (including tools like Technosylva), and the way local vegetation—oak and juniper rather than pines—shapes tactics on the ground. Listeners get a look at operational readiness during red‑flag conditions, how wildfire risk is being woven into routine vegetation‑management cycles, the overlap with WUI codes and defensible‑space responsibilities, and how grid‑modernization efforts support prevention and response. The episode also tackles the politics of tree work after major storms like Yuri and Mara, and closes with Chris’s practical advice for utilities standing up new programs in regions where wildfire is a newer concern.

A big thank you to the sponsors of this episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions.

In this episode of The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast, hosts Nick Ferguson and Stephen Cieslewicz sit down with Floyd Hardin of Salt River Project (SRP) to explore how one of the nation’s largest public power utilities is navigating wildfire risk in the unique landscapes of the desert Southwest.

Floyd shares how SRP is learning from the wildfire experiences of states like California and Oregon, adapting those lessons to its own operations. The conversation dives into the challenges of managing invasive grass species across desert grasslands, and the balance between fuels reduction and fuels removal in high-risk areas.

The discussion also highlights the respectful and collaborative work SRP does on tribal lands, including cultural and regulatory considerations. Floyd explains SRP’s “no-reclose” policy during fire season—a bold step in wildfire mitigation—and discusses its practical implications for system reliability and public safety.

Listeners will also hear about SRP’s innovative defensible space program around distribution poles, its measurable impact on reducing outages and ignition risks, and what the future holds for wildfire prevention efforts.

Key Topics Covered:

• Lessons learned from Western wildfires
• Wildfire risk in desert ecosystems
• Managing invasive species as fuel sources
• SRP’s approach to fuels reduction vs. removal
• Collaborating with tribal nations
• Implementing a no-reclose policy
• Defensible space for distribution poles
• Future innovations in vegetation management

Whether you’re in a utility, land management, or policy role, this episode offers actionable insights into proactive wildfire mitigation in diverse environments.

A huge thank you to the sponsor of this season and episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions.

In this episode of The UVM Podcast, Steve and Nick explore the complex intersection of Utility Vegetation Management and the insurance industry with a focus on insurance for UVM Service Providers. With increasing risks from wildfires, storms, and climate change, insurers are re-evaluating their coverage models for utilities. The episode addresses how proactive vegetation management can impact insurance claims, liability assessments, and rate structures.

Our hosts also discuss real-world examples, changes in insurance underwriting practices, and opportunities for better alignment between utilities and insurers to mitigate wildfire and storm-related damages. This timely conversation sheds light on how UVM professionals can prepare for a future where insurance plays a larger role in operational and financial planning.

The episode format is a round table and the guests are:

• Jett Abramson, EVP at Amwins Group
• Mark Shipp, Senior EVP and Practice Leader from Hub Arbor Insurance Group
• Joshua Caudill, Founder and President, Safety Leadership Innovators

A big thank you to this episode's sponsor, Clear Path Utility Solutions.