Guerrero speaks to a group of first responders including volunteer fire fighters at a Wildfire Mitigation Public Safety presentation. External Affairs aims to deliver the presentation across the service territory.
As the threat of wildfires increases across Texas, the AEP Texas External Affairs Division has begun sharing the company's efforts to mitigate the threats of wildfires and minimize the risks and impacts to customers.
Fred Guerrero, External Affairs manager-San Angelo, said the presentations focus on educating first responders about our efforts and teaching them about the safety resources available to them on AEPTexas.com.
“We have started contacting all paid and volunteer fire departments and other local emergency management agencies like Texas Division of Emergency Management, emergency management coordinators by area, police departments, the Texas A&M forestry – anyone who could possibly respond in an emergency - to have a discussion and share knowledge of what AEP Texas is doing. We are being proactive, maintaining our equipment and getting ahead of the game to minimize our risk when it comes to wildfires.”
In early 2024, the Smokehouse Creek wildfire burned more than one million acres in the Texas Panhandle and parts of Oklahoma. Though approximately 100 miles from the AEP Texas service territory, the fire still changed the legislative landscape of Texas. New guidance from Texas lawmakers and the Public Utility Commission for utilities soon followed.
AEP Texas filed a $350 million Resiliency Plan with the PUC that includes specific measures to mitigate wildfires and lessen the associated risks for customers. The PUC approved the plan in April 2025. The presentations will take place across the service territory.