AK HB276

Electric utilities holding certificates of public convenience and necessity may not be held strictly liable for property damage, death, or personal injury from acts or omissions related to electricity production, delivery, or sale.

Electric utilities are not liable for damage from vegetation contact with their facilities unless the vegetation is entirely within the utility's real property, lease, permit, easement, or right-of-way AND the utility either lacks a written vegetation management plan or fails to substantially comply with one.

Utilities may still be held liable for intentional, reckless, or negligent acts or omissions regardless of the strict liability protections.

A "written vegetation management plan or policy" is defined as a document establishing procedures for managing vegetation to protect the reliability and safety of electric facilities.

These liability provisions apply to civil lawsuits filed on or after the effective date of the Act.