Press Release

PUC Issues Agenda for Special Electric Reliability Forum on Hurricane Irene Preparation, Response

Published on 10/7/2011

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released the agenda for the Special Electric Reliability Forum on Oct. 12, 2011, to hear from the state’s electric utilities whose distribution systems were affected by Hurricane Irene.

Commissioners will be present for the forum, which will be conducted by the PUC’s Bureau of Technical Utility Services. An opportunity for the public to offer comment will occur at the conclusion of the formal remarks.

The forum will be held:

1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 12, 2011

Hearing Room 1

Commonwealth Keystone Building

400 North St.

Harrisburg, PA 17120

The agenda will include a presentation from PUC Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Dan Searfoorce summarizing the events related to Hurricane Irene, the overall magnitude of the statewide outages and the role of the PUC as it related to these outages.  Operational personnel from the following electric utilities to participate in the forum: the FirstEnergy Companies (Metropolitan Edison Co. and Pennsylvania Electric Co.); PECO Energy Co.; PPL Electric Utilities Corp., UGI Utilities Inc., and Pike County Light & Power. The utilities will address:

• The preparation, pre-planning, and pre-staging of personnel, materials and equipment;
• The number and length of the outages and restoration process;
• Outreach to contractors and other utilities;
• Specific issues associated with weather, geography, etc., that inhibited faster restorations;
• Customer communications and outreach;
• What went well and could serve as success stories for future restorations; and
• What could have been done better – lessons learned.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722