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Forest Fires: 73% of Power Companies' Preventive Actions Focus on Clearing Safety Perimeters

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The companies met with Senapred. One of the topics discussed was the need to establish clear protocols to react quickly to emergencies.

Executives from power companies in the Biobío Region approached the offices of Senapred Biobío to hold a meeting with this public agency, as well as with the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) and the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Energy.

The purpose of this meeting was to review plans aimed at preventing incidents resulting from high summer temperatures and the consequent increase in energy demand, which can lead to situations such as wildfires.

In total, distribution companies presented 47 plans and 114 activities, with an investment of $1.011 billion, while transmission companies reported 157 activities, with resources close to $689 million.

"The goal has been to hold sessions within risk management committees in different provinces. We already did this in Arauco and Biobío a few days ago," explained Alejandro Sandoval, Director of Senapred.

"We are bringing together, on one hand, municipal disaster risk management teams, and on the other, all power companies, both in transmission and distribution," he said.

The idea is for companies to present their mitigation and prevention plans to address peak wildfire season, while municipalities outline their critical points and specific needs. "We’ve been doing this for a couple of years now, alongside the SEC," Sandoval affirmed.

Acting Regional Energy Secretary Pablo Pinto stated, "We are working jointly to ensure companies take the necessary preventive measures. It’s crucial that companies comply with the action plans they’ve submitted."

Regarding the plans, the acting secretary noted they are designed for any emergency affecting transmission or distribution. "In summer, wildfires are clearly one of the situations that can cause issues. The goal is to maintain ongoing coordination between companies and public institutions to respond to various emergencies," he said.

SEC

It’s worth noting that the region has 5 distribution companies and 4 transmission companies. All submitted plans to be evaluated by the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels.

On this matter, Manuel Cartagena, Regional Director of SEC Biobío, commented, "This is the third provincial-level activity to review summer or high-temperature plans submitted by power companies under SEC directives, alongside the civil protection system."

The SEC’s role is to monitor plans and, if non-compliance is found, file charges. "We take administrative action against companies operating below standards. The Superintendency will not—and has not—accepted substandard conditions. Our role here is the sanctioning authority granted by electric law regarding power companies’ performance in transmission and distribution," Cartagena stated.

Regarding company commitments, the SEC regional director noted that 73% of actions involve tree trimming and clearing in safety perimeters, a highly intensive activity during this period.

"Our job is to verify compliance. Power companies are indeed demonstrating this, both in the technology they apply and the progress of their action plans," said Manuel Cartagena.

Finally, the local SEC director emphasized, "What’s key here is that Senapred has been an effective platform for coordinating the power industry with municipal emergency teams."

Companies

Fernando Caire, Zonal Manager of Frontel Biobío, said, "For us, this meeting is vital to align public and private efforts, where we as power companies share our planned measures."

"We work for the quality and continuity of our customers’ supply, and here we coordinate necessary actions with authorities or seek their support to ensure uninterrupted service," the Frontel manager added.

Meanwhile, Fernando Sanhueza, Zonal Manager of CGE for Biobío and Ñuble, explained they will present a general activity plan. "We’ll share our preventive measures to better prepare for potential incidents. Since August, we’ve been inspecting our lines on foot, addressing vegetation management—pruning or clearing—to maintain safety perimeters around power lines."

For the summer plan, all personnel will be on standby for emergency task forces. "We’ll deploy generators if supply restoration is delayed," CGE detailed. For prevention, they urged communities to register electricity-dependent patients as per regulations.

Informed Community

As part of wildfire prevention efforts, the Lonco Parque Forest Risk Prevention Committee conducted inspections this Friday morning in forests bordering homes and buildings in La Cantera.

Notably, the committee operates under the Forest Risk Prevention Network, established seven years ago by forestry firms Arauco and CMPC, later joined by Forestal Vista Hermosa and Comaco. The network educates communities to assess risks and prevent disasters.

The network invites CONAF teams to support observation and data collection in such activities.

Source:Diario Concepción