Service district officials describe sharp insurance market shift and plan coalition to press rating agencies

Beaver County service district officials and board members discussed a severe, industry-wide tightening of property insurance tied to wildfire risk, and they explored collective steps to persuade rating agencies and insurers to recognize local mitigation work.

Staff and board counsel reported multiple insurers have retreated from high-fire-score areas; one broker cited a hypothetical premium increase example in which a quoted financing or premium moved from roughly $16,000 to $160,000 in local examples discussed at the meeting. Staff said some carriers are offering policies with wildfire exclusions only up to certain limits (the meeting cited a $2 million limit for one market), and that many standard market options are limited or not yet approved by state regulators.

The nut graf: Commissioners heard that the community’s wildfire score (reported as above 80 in the conversation) is preventing access to affordable insurance for many property owners, and staff recommended pursuing a coalition of stakeholders — associations, local governments and influential private contacts — to press rating companies and state regulators for clearer mitigation criteria and recognition of local investments.

Staff described multiple mitigation efforts the district and partners have completed — water system upgrades, forest thinning and clearing — but said rating agencies and underwriters are not consistently crediting that work. Commissioners and staff discussed organizing a multi-party advocacy effort including nearby jurisdictions, business owners and legislators to obtain guidance from the rating companies on steps required to lower the wildfire score.

Ending: Board members asked staff to begin outreach to potential partners and to report back on steps to form a coalition or contact state-level officials and brokers to seek concrete guidance from rating agencies on mitigation requirements.