Best practices for wildfire mitigation

(a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall establish, within the Office of Electricity and in consultation with electric utilities, the electric reliability organization, and transmission organizations, best practices that electric utilities may use to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from the bulk-power system. (b) Required inclusions The best practices established pursuant to subsection (a) shall include practices for— (1) vegetation management and removal of forest-hazardous fuels along transmission lines; (2) improved engineering approaches to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from the bulk-power system; and (3) safer operational practices to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from the bulk-power system. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Bulk-power system The term bulk-power system has the meaning given such term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)). (2) Electric reliability organization The term electric reliability organization has the meaning given such term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)). (3) Electric utility The term electric utility has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). (4) Transmission organization The term transmission organization has the meaning given such term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)). (d) Savings Nothing in this section provides authority for the Secretary or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require an electric utility to use any best practice established pursuant to subsection (a).