Relating to the management and removal of vegetation and debris by certain electric utilities.

HB 165 requires electric utilities serving first-tier coastal counties or high-flood-risk areas to create and submit detailed vegetation management plans for their power lines and rights-of-way. These plans must outline trimming schedules, miles of infrastructure to be maintained, and annual costs, and must be approved by the Public Utility Commission within 180 days. The bill also establishes a new cost recovery mechanism allowing utilities to seek reimbursement for approved vegetation management expenses through a dedicated rate factor, separate from standard base rates. This directly affects utilities operating in vulnerable coastal or flood-prone regions, aiming to improve grid resilience after disasters by standardizing vegetation management practices.