In this episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Nick Ferguson and Stephen Cieslewicz are joined by Jim Kubrak, Senior Technical Advisor at The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and a key author of the newly released draft report, Reducing the Risk of Wildfire Ignition by the Bulk Power System. Together, they explore how wildfire risk is rapidly evolving from a regional concern into a continent-wide reliability issue for the electric grid.

Jim shares insights into NERC’s growing focus on wildfire as a critical reliability threat, highlighting data that shows increasing outage impacts and significantly longer restoration times compared to other severe weather events. The conversation dives into what prompted the report, namely a FERC directive following a Presidential Executive Order, and why its findings could be as transformative as past regulatory milestones like FAC-003.

A major focus of the discussion is how vegetation management must adapt. Key recommendations include expanding FAC-003 applicability down to 100 kV lines, increasing vegetation treatment frequency in high fire risk areas, and extending management practices beyond traditional rights-of-way. The episode also explores the role of advanced technologies. such as satellite data, LiDAR, AI, and weather modeling, in enabling more proactive, risk-based decision-making.

Jim emphasizes the importance of collaboration, data standardization, and stakeholder engagement as the industry moves toward implementation. He also underscores the opportunity for utilities to align Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) with Transmission Vegetation Management Programs (TVMPs) to create a more holistic approach to wildfire prevention.

With a public comment period closing on March 27th 2026 and standards development on the horizon, this episode is a must-listen for utility professionals seeking to understand, and influence, the future of wildfire risk mitigation on the bulk power system.

A big thank you to this episode’s sponsors, Jack McCabe, Ali Kulick, Darik Warnke, and the entire team at Davey Resource Group, Inc., without whose support this episode wouldn’t have been possible.

The draft report from NERC can be found here.

Materials from the NERC Workshop held in January 2026 can be found here.

In this episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Stephen R. Cieslewicz and Nick Ferguson, sit down with Sara Sankowich (Vice President Shared Services and Sustainability - Unitil ) and Randy Miller (Director of Research and Development- Eocene) from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point to discuss the Professional Utility Vegetation Management (Pro-UVM) Program and what it means for the future of our industry.

Sara and Randy explain how the program was created to bridge the gap between traditional forestry education and the realities of utility vegetation management — reliability pressure, wildfire risk, regulatory scrutiny, and public accountability.

The conversation breaks down:

• Foundations and Advanced Certificates
• The Professional UVM Credential pathway
• Course format, time commitment, grading, and CEU eligibility
• Who the program is built for — utilities, contractors, consultants, and regulators
• How the credential can strengthen hiring, advancement, and program credibility

The episode also highlights recent efforts at UW–Stevens Point to further institutionalize UVM, including exploration of establishing a full-time faculty position dedicated specifically to leading and expanding Utility Vegetation Management efforts at the university — a clear signal that UVM is evolving into a recognized professional discipline.

Steve and Nick push the larger question:

What does it truly mean to professionalize UVM — and will structured education help move the industry from reactive cycle management toward risk-based, proactive strategies?

Whether you are entering the field or leading a large vegetation program, this episode offers a practical look at how education and credentials may shape the next generation of UVM leadership.

Sponsors

This episode of The UVM Podcast is made possible by our commercial sponsors:

Celerity Utility Solutions
Clear Path Utility Solutions LLC

We appreciate their continued support of industry education and conversation.

In this episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Steve Cieslewicz and Nick Ferguson sit down with Matt Allen of Portland General Electric (PGE) to unpack what it really looks like to transition from private arboriculture into utility vegetation management.

After spending 27 years in the private tree care industry, Matt made the leap into the utility world. Now three years in, Matt reflects on the early culture shock, the steep learning curve, and the skills that translated surprisingly well from residential and commercial arboriculture into large-scale utility operations.

The conversation explores the differences between private and utility “customers,” managing crews and contracts at scale, and how expectations shift when public safety, reliability, and regulation enter the picture. Matt also shares what helped him survive those first overwhelming years, what he’d tell someone considering the same career move, and how experienced utility professionals can better support newcomers coming from the private side.

Beyond career transitions, the episode dives into bigger-picture topics like breaking down silos between contractors and utilities, how private arboriculture and utility forestry can learn from each other, and what’s currently happening inside PGE, including vegetation initiatives and wildfire mitigation efforts tied to Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs).

Whether you’re thinking about making the jump into utility vegetation management, onboarding new talent from the private sector, or looking for ways to strengthen collaboration across the industry, this episode offers candid insights from someone who’s lived on both sides of the fence.

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