Press Release

PUC Seeking Comments on Proposed Policy Statement on Utility Outage Response, Public Notification Guidelines, Establishing Working Group

Published on 9/26/2013

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today issued for comments a proposed policy statement on service outage response recovery and public notification guidelines and establishing a Critical Infrastructure Interdependency Working Group.

The Commission voted 5-0 to issue the matters for comment. Interested parties have 30 days to comment on the regulations. Instructions on how to file comments are contained in the Commission’s Order.

The proposed working group would be made up of jurisdictional electric distribution companies (EDCs), incumbent telephone, facilities-based competitive telephone, water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution utilities with 5,000 or more customers as well as non-jurisdictional stakeholders such as cable providers and wireless carriers. One of the goals would be for parties to come to an understanding of their critical interdependencies and how to coordinate restoration of services where more than one party is affected in a geographic area.

The proposed policy statement proposes a additional preparation and response measures which set forth the suggested measures for Pennsylvania EDCs that were developed after review of the utilities’ storm response for Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. The Commission is looking for input on if the policy statement should apply to other industries including water, wastewater, gas, and telephone.

The Commission also is seeking comments on the cost/benefit analysis regarding implementation of the policy statement by the EDCs, and potentially other industries, especially in regards to the proposed storm damage and outage prediction models.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

# # #

Docket No. M-2013-2382943

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722