Reliability
On May 4, 2004, the PUC approved regulations to tighten reliability standards and reporting requirements for electric utilities. The new standards are geared toward ensuring that electric utility performance with regard to the number and duration of power outages does not decline and toward making it easier for regulators to spot areas where service may be slipping.
Under the new rules, large electric companies will have to stay within 10 percent of a PUC-established benchmark for a rolling three-year period and within 20 percent of the benchmark during a rolling 12-month period. Four smaller electric companies – UGI, Citizens’, Pike County and Wellsboro – also must stay within 10 percent of their benchmark for a rolling three-year period, but will be allowed to go up to 35 percent of the benchmark for the rolling 12-month period.
Benchmarks are the Commission’s goals for each utility on the number and duration of outages. Reliability is considered reasonable when the numbers fall between the benchmark and the percentage standards described above.
Electric Reliability Standards (52 Pa. Code §§ 57.191-57.197)
On May 22, 2008, the Commission approved final regulations, at Docket No. L-00040167, to require electric distribution companies to biennially file plans explaining their plans for inspection, maintenance, replacement, and repair of their facilities that are designed to meet their reliability performance benchmarks and standards.
For more information, use the Search for Public Documents feature at docket numbers M-00991220, L-00040167 and L-00030161.
Special Reliability Meeting - Hurricane Sandy
Meeting Notice and Agenda
The meeting announcement and agenda for the Special Reliability Meeting regarding Hurricane Sandy on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 1:30 PM in Hearing Room 1 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.
Presentations
Winter Reliability Meeting
Meeting Notice and Agenda
The meeting announcement and agenda for the Winter Reliability Meeting on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 1:30 PM in Hearing Room 1 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.
2012 Presentations
2012 Winter Readiness Overviews
Summer Reliability Meeting
Meeting Notice and Agenda
The PUC has scheduled the Summer Reliability Meeting on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 1:30 PM in Hearing Room 1 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg. Press Release
2012 Presentations
2012 Summer Readiness Overviews
Special Reliability Meeting
Forum Audio
1:30 - 2:40 PM: Audio Clip - 2:45 to 4:45 PM: Audio Clip
Service Outage Response and Restoration Practices Proposed Rulemaking Order
Comments on the Proposed Rulemaking Order with respect to Service Outage Response and Restoration Practices, at Docket No. L-2009-2104274, and also in the matter of the Commission's Proposed Policy Statement with respect to Utility Service Outage Notification Guidelines at Docket No. M-2008-2065532, can be found here.
Proposed Rulemaking - Neutral Connection Inspection & Maintenance Standards
Neutral Connection
ANOPR Order - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) for Revision of 52 Pa. Code Chapter 57 pertaining to adding Neutral Connection Inspection and Maintenance Standards for the EDCs. From the public meeting of July 17, 2008. Docket No. L-2008-2044821.
Neutral Connection Comments
Docket No. L-2008-2044821
Neutral Connection Reply Comments
Docket No. L-2008-2044821
Inspection and Maintenance Standards
On May 22, 2008, the Commission approved final regulations, at Docket No. L-00040167, to require EDCs to biennially file plans setting forth their plans for the periodic inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of their facilities that are designed to meet their reliability benchmarks and standards. The regulations address vegetation management and inspection cycles for poles, overhead distribution lines, transformers, reclosers, substations and other critical system components.
Inspection and Maintenance Standards - Link to the Pa Code.
Electric Service Reliability Reports
The Commission publishes an annual report discusses the reliability performance of EDCs operating under the Commission’s jurisdiction within the Commonwealth. Although the reliability of the bulk transmission system is integral to the overall reliability of electric service, this report focuses on the reliability of the electric distribution system.
The data contained in this report was obtained from the quarterly and annual reliability reports submitted by the EDCs pursuant to the Commission’s regulations. These annual reports provide an assessment of electric service reliability for each EDC’s service territory.
Reports - Link to the Electric Reports page where the Electric Service Reliability Reports reside.
Electric Power Outlook
Each public utility which produces, generates, distributes, or furnishes electricity must annually submit to the Commission information concerning its future plans to meet its customers’ demands. The law requires the Commission to prepare a report summarizing and discussing the data provided on or before September 1, and submit the report to the General Assembly, the Governor, the Office of Consumer Advocate and each affected public utility. In compliance with the requirements of the public utility law, the Commission adopted regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 57.141—57.154.
Annual Resource Planning Report Regulations - Link to the Pa Code.
Electric Power Outlook Reports - The information contained in these reports includes a brief description of the existing generation, transmission and distribution system for each EDC, highlights of the past year, information on EDCs’ projections of peak load and a discussion of historical trends in electric utility forecasting. The reports were prepared by the PUC’s Energy Planning Section.