LPPC Calls for FEMA Reform While Emphasizing Need for Continued Federal Grants

When disasters strike, whether it be hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or winter storms, public power utilities are on the front lines, working around the clock to restore electric service and protect public safety. That rapid response depends on strong support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which plays a critical role both in helping public power utilities and co-ops financially recover from these disasters and in preventing the next ones. 

That’s why the Large Public Power Council (LPPC), which represents the 29 largest public power utilities serving more than 30 million Americans, has submitted formal comments to the Department of Homeland Security (Docket No. DHS-2025-0013), urging continued federal grants from FEMA for disaster response and resiliency while also proposing targeted reforms to strengthen the agency’s effectiveness. You can read the full letter here. 

FEMA has played a critical role in helping public power utilities and co-ops recover from major disasters, but the process hasn’t always been smooth. Many LPPC members have run into delays, red tape, and a one-size-fits-all system that doesn’t reflect how electric utilities operate.

LPPC is recommending a set of practical improvements – streamlining and clarifying FEMA’s reimbursement processes, improving coordination across federal, state, and local levels, offering more utility-specific staffing and support, expanding pre-disaster mitigation funding, allowing cost-effective resiliency measures in lieu of “like-for-like” replacements, and encouraging prudent prepositioning of equipment and resources.

Although these reforms are needed, FEMA remains a vital partner to public power utilities and co-ops, and FEMA grants should be maintained to ensure well-coordinated disaster assistance.