In 2012, more than 4,000 power line-caused wildfires were documented to have occurred in Texas in the previous three years, costing the state and its citizens hundreds of millions of dollars. In response, the legislature appropriated funds to demonstrate new technologies to detect ignition mechanisms to mitigate wildfire risks and losses. The project initiation meeting occurred in December 2013, at PUC headquarters in Austin.

The wildfire mitigation project was conducted over a three-year period and engaged seven utilities in the state.