The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries conducted an oversight hearing to examine how delays in managing electricity rights-of-way on public lands affect electricity ratepayers and public safety. The hearing also discussed the potential impact of the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to provide utilities with more flexibility in addressing threats to electric grid reliability and public safety.
Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) commented on the issue: “Bureaucratic red tape puts our livelihoods and electric grid at risk. Nearly 90,000 miles of power lines cross lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, yet utilities face years of delays to remove hazard trees or replace aging poles. Inconsistent and drawn out permitting drives up electric bills and leaves communities vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire.
“The House passed the Fix Our Forests Act to restore healthy forests, strengthen collaboration between federal agencies and utilities and give utilities greater flexibility to manage threats to public safety and electric grid reliability. The Natural Resources Committee is committed to restoring healthy forests, improving coordination on rights-of-way and ensuring Americans have reliable power.”
Currently, almost 90,000 miles of electricity rights-of-way are located on land overseen by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Ratepayers cover the costs associated with operating, maintaining, and repairing these lines. However, existing federal policies create inconsistent permitting processes that increase costs for ratepayers and make it harder for utilities to maintain infrastructure safely.
The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act was passed by the House in January 2025 under Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.). Supporters argue that this legislation would improve forest health, enhance cooperation between federal agencies and utility companies, and equip utilities with better tools for managing risks related to both electric grid reliability and public safety. Advocates say Senate approval is needed for these changes to take effect.
For further details about the hearing, visit the committee’s website.