Shows
The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast33 | Floyd Hardin, Salt River ProjectIn 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 ar...2025-07-0253 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast32 | Insurance and UVMIn 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...2025-06-1158 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast31 | The UVM Report - 2025In this episode, Nick interviews Steve, to discuss his 2025 UVM report calling for a transformation in how utilities manage vegetation near power infrastructure. With over four decades of experience shaping industry standards and investigating some of the most significant failures in North American grid reliability—including the 2003 Northeast Blackout—Cieslewicz outlines why traditional, reactive vegetation management is no longer viable. He makes a powerful case for proactive, data-driven strategies that not only prevent wildfires and outages but also address regulatory gaps, environmental justice, and rising utility costs.Nick delves into his recommendations for integrating proven practices like Righ...2025-05-0137 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast30 | Ben Silverman, International Wildfire Risk Mitigation Consortium (IWRMC)In this episode, Nick and Steve are joined by Ben Silverman. Ben is a Program Director at E-Source, who is one of the founding members of the International Wildfire Risk Mitigation Consortium (IWRMC). They begin by discussing the mission of the IWRMC and the history behind its creation. Ben shares the structure they have established to ensure that their monthly conversations are collaborative and productive while navigating complex regulatory requirements. After sharing an overview of the four areas the IWRMC focuses on, Ben then gives a more in-depth look at how the group is looking at Vegetation Management. The...2024-12-1028 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast29 | Dennis Fallon, Utility Arborist Association, Brian Eubanks, PG&E/ Saluting BranchesIn this episode of the UVM Podcast, hosts Nick and Steve sit down with Dennis Fallon, Executive Director of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), to discuss the highly anticipated Trees & Utilities Conference. This year’s event will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, from September 10th to September 12th, and it’s shaping up to be one of the largest gatherings yet. Dennis shares his excitement about the record-breaking attendance expected this year and expresses his gratitude for the hard work behind the scenes that’s making this event possible.The discussion highlights the many aspects that make T...2024-09-0535 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast28 | Utility Vegetation Management Institute, Larry Kahn, Tulane University Law SchoolIn this episode, Steve is joined by a very special, and tough, guest co-host in Nick’s absence. The episode kicks off with Steve’s co-host sharing an update on all of the amazing work they have been doing since they last spoke. Once Steve and his co-host are caught up, they are joined by Professor Lawrence J. Kahn. Larry is an adjunct professor at Tulane University and Co-founder of the Utility Vegetation Management Institute (UVMI). This is the fourth episode, in a planned series of discussions with Professor Kahn, where we hope to raise issues worthy of consideration and d...2024-05-0637 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast27 | Eric Brown, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)In today’s episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Nick and Steve are joined by industry thought leader Eric Brown, Manager of Grid Assets for Electric T&D Vegetation Management at Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Eric shares the serendipitous story of how he was first introduced to a career in the UVM field—right in a parking lot! Reflecting on his time at PG&E in various roles, Eric highlights the invaluable insights he gained from colleagues, peers, and consultants. Eventually, shared corridors and previous collaborations led Eric to his current role with SMUD, where he manages their T&D...2024-02-141h 04The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast26 | Tim Walsh, The Davey Tree Expert CompanyIn this episode, Nick and Steve have the privilege of hosting Tim Walsh, a key member of the UVM industry with decades of experience and a passionate advocate for safety. Tim, a former president of the UAA and current VP of Health and Safety at Davey Tree Company, kicks off the conversation by shedding light on the various committees available for UAA members to join and actively engage with the organization.Highlighting Trees and Utilities as the premier event in the UVM industry, Tim reflects on the significance of the event, drawing attention to the wealth of e...2024-01-1554 min
The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast25 | Jeremy Hayward, Redding Rancheria, Native American Tribe **CEUs available**In an engaging podcast episode, Nick and Steve are joined by Jeremy Hayward, a member of the Redding Rancheria nation and President of the Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation (REDDCO). Jeremy also represents and speaks about the Native American owned UVM company, Essential Vegetation Management Services (EVMS).Jeremy delves into the rich tapestry of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), a treasure trove of indigenous communities' wisdom, practices, and beliefs that revolves around the symbiotic relationship between life and its environment. With a blend of culture, spirituality, history, and profound understanding of ecosystems, TEK stands as a testament to...2023-10-0549 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast24 | Madelyn Anderson, Powerline Bushfire Safety Program, Victoria, Australia (part 2) **CEUs available**Part 2In this episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Steve and Nick are joined by guest Madelyn Anderson, Senior Policy Officer of the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Victoria, Australia. The conversation covers a range of topics related to UVM, risk reduction, and powerline-related wildfires in the State of Victoria.Madelyn introduces herself and discusses her involvement with policy design after significant bushfire events in Australia. She highlights the increasing consequences of bushfires due to population expansion in high-risk areas and the impact of climate change...2023-09-0626 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast23 | Madelyn Anderson, Powerline Bushfire Safety Program, Victoria, Australia (part 1) **CEUs Available**In this episode of The UVM Podcast, hosts Steve and Nick are joined by guest Madelyn Anderson, Senior Policy Officer of the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Victoria, Australia. The conversation covers a range of topics related to UVM, risk reduction, and powerline-related wildfires in the State of Victoria.Madelyn introduces herself and discusses her involvement with policy design after significant bushfire events in Australia. She highlights the increasing consequences of bushfires due to population expansion in high-risk areas and the impact of climate change on fire frequency...2023-08-2347 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast22 | Electricity Canada, Dan Gent **CEUs Available**In this podcast interview, Nick and Steve, hosts of The UVM Podcast, interview Dan Gent, Director of Transmission and Reliability at Electricity Canada, a national forum and voice of the evolving and innovative electricity business in Canada. Dan explains his background and role at Electricity Canada, working within a trade association to represent its members to broader stakeholder groups such as the federal government and other regulatory organizations. He discusses the importance of transmission reliability and how it has been his area of focus for over a decade. Dan also highlights the challenges for transmission reliability across Canada, particularly...2023-05-1843 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast21 | US vs. Europe: Response to the 2003 Blackouts, Lex KumarIn the aftermath of the 2003 tree related blackouts, North America and Europe responded differently to the issue of regulating their electricity grids. North America adopted a highly regulated approach with clear standards and enforcement mechanisms, resulting in fewer large-scale blackouts. Meanwhile, Europe struggled with a lack of centralized regulation and cross-border enforcement mechanisms, leading to disparities in UVM programs, but greater flexibility in adopting new, greener technologies to address climate change.Overall, the lessons learned from the 2003 blackouts have highlighted the importance of clear regulation, independent and reliable regulatory agencies, and adaptability in the face of climate...2023-03-1942 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast20 | Artificial Intelligence and Utility Vegetation Management **CEUs Available**The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) is revolutionizing the way we manage vegetation around power lines, and the benefits are nothing short of impressive. AI is capable of processing and analyzing vast amounts of data collected from advanced remote sensing technologies like drones, LiDAR, and satellites. This analysis helps to identify potential vegetation risks and prioritize areas that require immediate attention, allowing utility companies to proactively mitigate the risk of outages and fires. This episode explores this emerging technology, providing insights on the many ways it is transforming UVM and improving the overall safety...2023-02-1835 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast19 | Demarcation, Larry Kahn, Tulane University Law School **CEUs Available**In this episode we discuss the “the demarcation issue” with Larry Kahn, the Distinguished Research Fellow at Tulane Law School’s UVMI. This is the second episode, in a planned series of discussions with Larry, where we hope to raise issues worthy of consideration and debate in the UVM industry. During this episode Larry, Steve and Nick explain and discuss the demarcation issue and present ideas to reduce outages, fires and accidents. As with the Rule of 70 episode, this is an important to the UVM industry.We hope that you find this episode of The UVM Pod...2022-10-2423 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast18 | The Cradle Grave Asset Lifecycle (LiveEO, NV5 Geospatial, Planet)What is the cradle to grave asset lifecycle, and how do different forms of remote sensing come into play? Is satellite the ‘silver bullet’ of the remote sensing world that will entirely replace LiDAR or is the picture more nuanced than that? Steve and Nick are joined by Subject Matter Experts from LiveEO (Tony Palizzi), NV5 Geospatial (Jacob Hall) and Planet (Paulina Zubatov) to unpack the asset life cycle and examine, through a remote sensing lens, how geospatial technology can support each stage.The NPR Podcast with Planet's founders that was mentioned during this recording can b...2022-09-091h 05The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast17 | The Rule of 70, Larry Kahn, Visiting Research Fellow, Tulane University Law SchoolIn this episode we discuss the “Rule of 70” with Larry Kahn, the Distinguished Research Fellow at Tulane Law School’s UVMI. This is the first episode, in a planned series of discussions with Larry, where we hope to raise issues worthy of consideration and debate in the UVM industry. During this episode Larry, Steve and Nick explain what the Rule of 70s is and why it may be one of the most important metrics a Utility Arborist needs to track. We hope that you find this episode of The UVM Podcast insightful. If you have any feed...2022-08-2424 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast16 | Integrated Vegetation Management & ROW Stewardship, Lewis Payne, Manager ROW/ Environmental, New York Power Authority (NYPA) **CEUs Available**In this episode (and at the suggestion of one of our subscribers- thanks Eric Owens at CNUC!) we interview Lewis Payne from the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the largest state-owned utility in the United States. Lewis (Lew) Payne is the Manager ROW/Environmental and a well-respected 30+ year veteran in the Transmission UVM industry. During this thoughtful discussion, Lew discusses his work on a variety of topics ranging from pollinator habitat and IVM, to the way the transmission industry was influenced by the August 14, 2003 Northeast Blackout.We hope that you find this episode of The U...2022-08-1547 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast15 | Eliecer Viamontes, President and CEO, Entergy TexasIn this episode we interview Eliecer Viamontes, the recently appointed President and CEO of Entergy Texas. Entergy serves about 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and they are no strangers to Utility Vegetation Management or the implications of tree and power line conflicts. During this inspiring discussion Eliecer not only outlines current priorities and accomplishments of Entergy Texas, he talks about his own background and experiences in running UVM programs. You heard that right, he is a utility company CEO that actually understands UVM and recognizes the value of our collective work. For those o...2022-06-2133 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast14 | Steve Martin, Powerlink QueenslandIn this episode we interview Steve Martin from Powerlink Queensland. Steve is the Senior Strategist for Land, Research and Development for Powerlink and works out of the greater Brisbane area of Australia. During this lively down-under discussion, Steve and the podcast hosts discuss a wide array of issues ranging from animal grazing on transmission ROWs to managing our UVM workloads as an asset - not a liability. It is also another episode where “the tyranny of distance” plays a role in UVM and bushfire mitigation (note: you can listen to earlier episodes with our other Australian guests if yo...2022-05-3132 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast13 | Hydro One, Teri French, VP Forestry Services and Patrick Howe, Vegetation Management Front Line ManagerIn this episode we interview Teri French, Vice President, Forestry Services, and Patrick Howe, Vegetation Management Front Line Manager at Hydro One. In this thoughtful discussion, Teri and Patrick talk about running an in-house UVM program in Canada’s most populous province, Ontario. Hydro One is a utility that is committed to operating safely in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. During this discussion we cover several topics including:Hydro One’s unique and comprehensive in-house operationsHydro One’s approach to scheduling work across its massive and diverse territoryAdvice for young UVM professionalsThe importa...2022-04-1218 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast12 | Matt Palmer, Ergon Energy Network and Energex, part of the Energy Queensland groupIn this episode we interview Matt Palmer, Vegetation Specialist - Standards, at Ergon Energy Network and Energex, part of the Energy Queensland group. Ergon Energy Network and Energex are distribution service providers that together deliver approximately 35,000 GWh of electricity right across Queensland to around 2.3 million customers. The network consists of more than 178,000 km of overhead powerlines and 29,000 km of underground power cables. During this discussion we cover several topics including:System configuration The unique geographical challenges posed by QueenslandThe tyranny of distance when working with such a remote distribution systemRegulation for utilities in QueenslandVegetation wor...2022-03-3023 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast11 | Richard Hauer, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point **CEUs Available**** 0.5 CEU credit from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **In this episode we interview Professor Richard Hauer from the College of Natural Resources at The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point (UWSP). An academic institution known by many of our listeners, UWSP continues to be a source of education and research to the UVM industry. During this thoughtful discussion, Professor Hauer discusses his work on a recent report he published about Utility Vegetation Management in North America. The report was based on...2022-03-1527 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast10 | CEATI - Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation, Rob Young, Utility Vegetation Management Technical AdvisorCentre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI)This episode features an interview with Rob Young, Executive Director of the Registered Professional Foresters Association of Nova Scotia, and Technical Advisor to the research organization CEATI. Rob spent over 25 years developing and leading Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) programs at Nova Scotia Power for 5,500 km of transmission and 27,000 km of distribution lines. In this interview, we discuss the research organization CEATI, and the work it is doing to advance Utility Vegetation Management as a discipline. We cover several topics including: Background on CEATILearning opportunities...2022-02-0826 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast09 | What should you expect if you are involved in a UVM lawsuit? **CEUs Available**** 1 CEU credit from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **In this episode we interview Randy Gimple, a founding partner of Carlson, Calladine & Peterson LLP, a litigation firm in San Francisco, California. Over his 34 years in the practice, he has handled hundreds of catastrophic and mass tort cases involving wildfires, explosions, floods and various other calamities. Randy is one of the nation’s premier wildfire litigators and has been involved with numerous high profile legal cases directly related to tree and power line co...2022-01-1840 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast08 | Why do conductors sag and sway? Power Line Systems, Otto Lynch, President & CEO **CEUs Available**** 0.5 CEU credit from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **This episode features an interview is with a Professional Engineer, Otto Lynch, President & CEO of Power Line Systems. Conductors can move during the course of a day under different electrical loading and weather scenarios, a phenomenon known as sag and sway, which is not always well understood. Sag and sway can have a major impact on vegetation management as the movement envelope needs to be taken into account to ensure that acceptable clearances between...2022-01-0523 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast07 | Seattle City Light, David Bayard, Vegetation ManagementIn this episode we interview David Bayard, the Vegetation Manager at Seattle City Light, the 10th largest publicly owned utility in the United States. With a job that includes oversight and involvement with both UVM and the municipal/urban forest, David provides insights into what some have wrongly considered to be competing interests. During this thoughtful, and at times philosophic interview, we discuss a range of topical issues including:How an English Literature major moves from prose to UVMThe history of Seattle City LightThe migrating fire problem in Washington State Potential changes to utility practices as a result o...2021-12-1423 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast06 | Satellite remote sensing for Utility Vegetation Management, Sven Pryzwara, CEO, LiveEOIn this episode we interview Sven Przywarra, Co-Founder of LiveEO, to discuss satellite remote sensing for Utility Vegetation Management. In recent years, the privatization of space and a reduction in the costs of accessing space has led to a proliferation in the number of earth observation satellites and the capabilities of these constellations. This raises the question of whether the T&D industry, and in particular the vegetation management community, can benefit from the technology. It’s a hot topic - with several presentations exploring different aspects of the technology at the recent Trees and Utilities conference. In today’s ep...2021-11-3037 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast05 | Essential Energy, Heath Frewin, Manager Strategy - Vegetation **CEUs Available**This episode includes a short round up from the Trees and Utilities conference in Minneapolis followed by an in-depth interview with our first Australian guest, Heath Frewin, Manager Strategy - Vegetation at Essential Energy. Essential Energy is one of Australia’s largest networks delivering electricity to a staggering 95% of New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, including some 865,000 homes and businesses. The service territory is a whopping 737,000 square kilometers, from the Wadbilliga National Park in the south of the state to the Gold Coast in Queensland to the north, an area larger than Texas. Essential Energy is state-owned, and...2021-11-1529 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast04 | Liberty Utilities, Jason Grossman, Manager, Vegetation Management **CEUs available**Liberty Utilities is an operating company of Algonquin Power, serving over 1 million customers across 13 US States and 1 Canadian Province with some $6.8BN in regulated utility assets. On this episode, our guest is Jason Grossman, Manager - Vegetation Management at Liberty Utilities (Missouri). In this discussion, Jason will cover: How he got started in Utility Vegetation ManagementThe impact of ice storms on the grid and the role of vegetation management in response effortsThe role of the Missouri Public Service Commission in setting funding requirementsLiberty Utilities (Missouri) reliability statistics vs. benchmarks (SAIDI, SAIFI) Integrated Vegetation Management and responsible ste...2021-11-0328 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast03 | The Utility Arborist Association, Outgoing Executive Director, Dr. Philip Charlton, Incoming Executive Director, Dennis Fallon **CEUs Available**** 0.5 CEU credits from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) are available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **The Utility Arborist Association (UAA) – Decades of Support for the UVM Industry For almost a half century, the Utility Arborist Association has worked towards its stated mission that “We will drive excellence, innovation, and improvement in utility vegetation management through professional development, outreach, research, and the use of best practices.” With over 5,000 members worldwide the UAA has been an important and impactful voice in the industry and has had a signif...2021-10-1924 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast02 | Tulane's Utility Vegetation Management Initiative (UVMI), Larry Kahn, Visiting Research Fellow, Tulane University Law School **CEUs Available**** 1 CEU credit from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **For decades, the UVM industry has been supported by several organizations known to us all. A short list of those groups includes the UAA, ISA, EEI, Arbor Day, CEATI and EPRI. In this podcast, we speak to a new academically-centered organization, housed at Tulane University Law School, that is also focused on UVM related issues. Going forward in time, Tulane’s Utility Vegetation Management Initiative (UVMI) will have a pivotal role in shaping the my...2021-10-1156 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast01 | Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs **CEUs Available**** 0.5 CEU credit from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) available to Utility Arborist Association members. Complete the questionnaire on the UAA website here. **The new California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety – an interview with Director Caroline Thomas JacobsThe increasing prevalence of devastating wildland fires in California has resulted in the creation of a new utility oversight agency that has had significant impacts on how UVM is performed in the state. This new and powerful agency is focused on preventing fires related to energy related infrastructure (Energy Safety) and UVM is an important part of th...2021-10-0117 minThe Utility Vegetation Management Podcast00 | The UVM Podcast Introduction (Pilot)An introduction to The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast. This pilot episode describes the three principal reasons we do this work:The first reason we manage trees near power lines has to do with preventing outages. In most places across North America, tree and powerline conflicts are the single largest cause of power outages on distribution systems. Trees, either growing into, or more often than not, falling into power lines are the main reason why our lights go out. The second reason for UVM has to do with fire mitigation. For those of you in fi...2021-08-1209 min