Chicago Metropolitan Area

Critical Infrastructure Protection Program

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSURANCE

GUIDELINES FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

PLANNING FOR ELECTRIC POWER DISRUPTIONS

February 2001
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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PREFACE

The economic prosperity and the well-being of our nation’s communities depend

on the reliable functioning of critical infrastructures: transportation, banking and

finance, information and communications, water supply systems, emergency

services, and especially energy (electric power, oil, and natural gas). In the new

economy, these infrastructures are increasingly reliant on information

technologies and are strongly affected by restructuring and other market forces.

They are much more heavily interconnected than ever before, and disruptions in

one system can have significant adverse consequences, both locally and

regionally. Communities often are not well prepared to deal with widespread

infrastructure failures, which could become commonplace in the new

millennium.

In response to these concerns, the Presidential Commission on Critical

Infrastructure Protection produced a report (Critical Foundations: Protecting

America’s Infrastructures, October 1997) that concluded that it was vital to

develop programs to protect critical infrastructures that contribute to public

health and safety, economic prosperity, and national security. Subsequently, a

Presidential Decision Directive was issued (PDD-63: Critical Infrastructure

Protection, May 1998), which called for the federal government to engage in

“close cooperation and coordination with state and local governments ... [to

develop] a robust and flexible infrastructure protection program.”

The Chicago Metropolitan Area Critical Infrastructure Protection Program

addresses the need for better community preparedness. The Chicago

Metropolitan Area, which includes the City of Chicago and the six surrounding

counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will), has endured significant

disruptions to its critical infrastructures. The U.S. Department of Energy’s

Midwest Electricity Reliability Summit — held in Chicago in October 1999 and

co-chaired by Mayor Daley and Secretary of Energy Richardson — recognized

the need for increased efforts to enhance the reliability and security of the

region’s electric power system. The summit led to the establishment of this

unique effort, a pilot program based on cooperation between the federal

government and local agencies. In January 2000, Paula Scalingi, Director of the

Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection, and William

Abolt, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, signed a

Memorandum of Agreement that established a partnership for this pilot program.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and ComEd joined in this unprecedented

initiative, focused on assuring critical services and assets for the region’s

municipalities. The program is meant to serve as a model for other regions of the

nation to enhance their critical infrastructure emergency preparedness plans.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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This report, prepared on behalf of the partnership, is a first-of-a-kind effort to

compile this type of information on the electric power system in a form that

municipal governments can use and adapt to local conditions. ComEd and Harza

Engineering Company have provided valuable support for this effort. Argonne

National Laboratory’s Infrastructure Assurance Center compiled and integrated

the planning information.

How to Use these Guidelines

This document addresses actions that municipal governments can take to protect

public health and safety before, during, and after electric power service

disruptions. The general term that has been used for this type of planning and

preparation is “critical infrastructure assurance.”

This document is a set of guidelines, not requirements. Each municipality that

elects to implement these guidelines will need to make changes and adjustments

to the approaches outlined in this document to reflect local needs and conditions.

These guidelines are intended to be an information resource that municipalities

can draw upon and adapt as needed.

For municipalities that decide to use these guidelines, the first step is to complete

the checklist on the following page. It provides a step-by-step procedure for

assigning responsibilities, assembling information, and developing plans to deal

with electric power disruptions. Each entry in the checklist refers to a section in

the guidelines that contains more detailed information about that subject. Some

municipalities may have completed many or all of the steps in the checklist,

whereas others will be starting from the beginning.

Further Information

Comments and questions concerning the use of these guidelines should be

addressed to:

Richard R. Cirillo

Infrastructure Assurance Center

Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne, IL 60439

Phone: 630-252-1990

Fax: 630-252-9559

Email: iac@anl.gov

Chicago Metropolitan Area
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Checklist for Municipal Government Electric Power Disruption Planning

 Planning Area/Question

Refer to Guidelines

Section/Appendix

Responsibilities

Has a department(s) and/or an individual(s) in the municipal government structure

been identified as the primary point of contact for electric power disruption

planning?

Section 3.1

Have the appropriate municipal franchise agreements and ordinances that deal

with electric power service been enacted?

Section 3.2,

Appendixes B, C

Are municipal employees aware of the electric-power-related points of contact in

other municipalities and in county, state, and federal agencies?

Section 3.3, Points of

Contact

Pre-disruption Planning

Have critical facilities been identified and prioritized? Section 4.1, Appendix D

Have power-outage-sensitive individuals been identified, for example, persons

using medical support systems? Section 4.2, Appendix E

Has a vulnerability assessment been carried out that considers the configuration

of electric service to the municipality, the connections of critical facilities and

power-outage-sensitive individuals, and backup capabilities?

Section 4.3

Have appropriate protection and mitigation measures been identified, evaluated,

and implemented? Section 4.4, Appendix F

Disruption Response Planning

Has a disruption notification protocol been established with ComEd, including

identification of conditions and of people in the municipal government that will

need to be notified, information that will be communicated in the notification, and

how the notification will be made?

Section 5.2

Have the procedures for responding to Electricity Alert, Warning, and Emergency

situations been developed?

Section 5.3

Have the procedures for responding to limited, extended, wide area, and

regionwide outages been developed?

Section 5.4

Post-disruption Restoration Planning

Have procedures for restoring normal operations following an outage been

developed?

Section 6

Preparedness Exercises

Have preparedness exercises been planned and carried out? Section 7

Longer-term Preparedness

Have building codes, zoning ordinances, and growth and plans been reviewed to

assess their effects on the electric power infrastructure?

Section 8

Plan Development

Have the previous items been documented in an electric power disruption plan for

the municipality? Does the plan address physical and cyber security

considerations?

Sections 9, 10
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CONTENTS

Preface ......................................................................................................................................... iii

1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Scope............................................................................................................................. 2

2 The Electric Power System in the Chicago Metropolitan Area ............................................ 4

2.1 Components of the Electric Power System ................................................................... 4

2.2 Electric Power Service Disruptions............................................................................... 5

3 Establishing Electric Power Disruption Planning Responsibilities....................................... 10

3.1 Identification of Lead Organizations in a Municipality ................................................ 10

3.2 Relevant Municipal Agreements and Ordinances ......................................................... 10

3.3 Other Organization Resources and Responsibilities ..................................................... 13

4 Predisruption Planning .......................................................................................................... 16

4.1 Critical Facilities ........................................................................................................... 16

4.2 Power-outage-sensitive Individuals .............................................................................. 22

4.3 Assessment of Potential Vulnerabilities........................................................................ 23

4.4 Evaluation of Alternative Preparedness Measures........................................................ 24

5 Disruption Response Planning .............................................................................................. 29

5.1 Planning for a Staged Response .................................................................................... 29

5.2 Notification and Communication .................................................................................. 29

5.3 Response Protocols in Anticipation of a Disruption ..................................................... 35

5.4 Response Protocols during a Disruption ....................................................................... 37

6 Restoration Planning ............................................................................................................. 45

7 Preparedness Exercises ......................................................................................................... 47

7.1 Exercise Foundations .................................................................................................... 47

7.2 Types of Exercises ........................................................................................................ 47

7.3 Designing and Conducting an Exercise......................................................................... 49

8 Longer-term Preparedness..................................................................................................... 51

8.1 Building Codes.............................................................................................................. 51

8.2 Zoning Ordinances........................................................................................................ 55
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8.3 Growth and Development Projections .......................................................................... 57

9 Development of an Electric Power Disruption Plan ............................................................. 60

10 Maintenance of Security........................................................................................................ 62

APPENDIXES AND POINTS OF CONTACT

Appendix A: Glossary............................................................................................................... 65

Appendix B: Model Franchise Agreement................................................................................ 77

Appendix C: Model Electric Emergency Ordinance................................................................. 95

Appendix D: Sample Form for Gathering Information on Critical Facilities ...........................103

Appendix E: Sample Form for Gathering Information

 on Power-outage-sensitive Individuals ................................................................109

Appendix F: Preparedness Measures for Critical Facilities

 and Power-outage-sensitive Individuals ..............................................................115

Points of Contact........................................................................................................................125

FIGURE

4.1 Predisruption Planning Process......................................................................................... 17

TABLES

1.1 Contents of These Guidelines ........................................................................................... 3

3.1 Typical Municipal Departments and Electric Power Responsibilities.............................. 11

4.1 Typical Critical Facilities and Criteria.............................................................................. 19

4.2 Sample Response Priority Classification for Critical Facilities ........................................ 21

4.3 Typical Preparedness Measures for Critical Facilities

and Power-outage-sensitive Individuals........................................................................... 25

5.1 Classification Scheme for Impending Electric Power Disruptions................................... 30

5.2 Classification Scheme for Actual Electric Power Disruptions.......................................... 31

5.3 Response Protocol for Planned Interruptions.................................................................... 36

5.4 Response Protocol for Electricity Alert ............................................................................ 37

5.5 Response Protocol for Electricity Warning....................................................................... 38

5.6 Response Protocol for Electricity Emergency................................................................... 39

5.7 Response Protocol for Limited Disruptions...................................................................... 41

5.8 Response Protocol for Extended Disruptions.................................................................... 42

5.9 Response Protocol for Wide Area Disruptions ................................................................. 43

5.10 Response Protocol for Regionwide Disruptions ............................................................... 44

6.1 Restoration Actions........................................................................................................... 46

8.1 Summary of Power-outage-relevant Portions of Model Building Codes.......................... 52

8.2 Summary of Selected Chicago Municipal Code Sections with

 Relevance to Power Outages............................................................................................. 54
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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

On the National Level

In 1996, the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection was

established to evaluate the vulnerability to disruption of the nation’s

infrastructures, including electric power, oil and natural gas, telecommunications,

transportation, banking and finance, and vital government services. The

Commission’s report, issued in October 1997, concluded, “Waiting for disaster is

a dangerous strategy. Now is the time to act to protect our future.”

Presidential Decision Directive 63 — issued in May 1998 — outlined steps to be

taken to protect critical infrastructures from disruptions that could seriously

affect public health and safety, the economy, or our national security. Included in

this Directive was a call for the federal government to engage in “close

cooperation and coordination with state and local governments ... [to develop] a

robust and flexible infrastructure protection program.”

On the Local Level

The Chicago Metropolitan Area, which encompasses Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake,

McHenry, and Will Counties, has experienced significant disruptions to electric

power service in recent years. These outages have seriously affected critical

facilities, as well as those individuals who are particularly sensitive to power

failures, such as people who rely on electrically powered medical equipment.

Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the root causes of the

problems. Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), the City of Chicago, the

region’s municipalities, and the Illinois Commerce Commission have undertaken

important actions to deal with the problems.

From these efforts has emerged a consensus that the growth and development of

the metropolitan area have increased the region’s dependency on the electric

power infrastructure — much more now than in the past. Disruptions to the

This document presents guidelines on actions that can be taken by

municipal governments to protect public health and safety before, during,

and after electric power service interruptions. This type of planning and

preparation, referred to as “critical infrastructure assurance,” gives

communities the ability to prevent or reduce serious impacts associated with

critical infrastructure disruptions.
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electric power system occur from various sources, including natural events such

as storms, accidents such as equipment failures, and intentional acts such as

vandalism or terrorism. These problems can be reduced, but they cannot be

eliminated entirely. Therefore, it is in the best interests of public health and

safety to prepare in advance for disruptions and to be ready to mitigate their

consequences.

In January 2000, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago and the

Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection of the U.S. Department of Energy

signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which, among other things, called for a

joint effort to develop guidelines for municipalities to use in preparing for and

coping with electric power disruptions. Under the terms of this agreement,

development of these guidelines would involve a collaborative effort among the

City, the suburban communities in the region as represented by the Metropolitan

Mayors Caucus and the Councils of Government, the Department of Energy, and

ComEd. The Infrastructure Assurance Center of Argonne National Laboratory

and Harza Engineering would provide technical support.1

1.2 SCOPE

This document is a set of guidelines, not requirements, that are intended to be a

source of information that municipalities can draw upon and adapt as needed.

Each municipality that decides to implement these guidelines will need to make

changes and adjustments to the approaches outlined in this document to more

clearly reflect local needs and conditions.

These guidelines address steps that municipal governments can take to prepare

for and mitigate the consequences of disruptions to the electric power

infrastructure. The information presented in these guidelines is organized as

shown in Table 1.1.

 

1

 Argonne National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy facility operated by the University of Chicago.

Harza Engineering Company provides support services to the City of Chicago.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Table 1.1 Contents of These Guidelines

Section/

Appendix Contents

Section 2 Description of the electric power infrastructure in the region

Section 3 Assignment of responsibilities within a municipality

Section 4 Planning to be done before electric power disruptions occur

Section 5 Actions that can be taken during a disruption

Section 6 Actions that can be taken after a disruption to restore

conditions to normal

Section 7 Use of exercises to test a municipality’s readiness

Section 8 Longer-term preparedness issues

Section 9 Development of an integrated electric power disruption plan

Section 10 Need for security

Appendix A Glossary of terms

Appendix B Model franchise agreement

Appendix C Model electric emergency ordinance

Appendix D Sample form for gathering information on critical facilities

Appendix E Sample form for gathering information on power-outagesensitive individuals

Appendix F Preparedness measures for critical facilities and poweroutage-sensitive individuals

Points of contact
4

2 THE ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM IN THE CHICAGO

METROPOLITAN AREA

2.1 COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM

The electric power system is generally described in terms of three components:

the generators, the transmission system, and the distribution system (see

Appendix A for a glossary of terms).

Generators are power stations that produce electricity. Various technologies are

used to generate electricity, including coal, gas, oil, and nuclear. Generators

come in many power output sizes — ranging from 1 MW (1 million watts, which

is expressed as 1 megawatt or 1 MW) to 1,200 MW. Some plants — called base

load units — run continuously, while others — called peakers — run only during

periods of high demand. ComEd owns and operates all of the nuclear generators

in the region, while other companies own and operate the coal-, gas-, and oilfired units, both base load and peakers.

Transmission systems are composed of high-voltage equipment that moves large

quantities of electricity through the electric power grid. In the Chicago

Metropolitan Area, ComEd owns and operates the entire transmission system,

including the following components:

 Transmission lines – high-voltage power lines. In the Chicago Metropolitan

Area, transmission lines operate at voltages of 69,000, 138,000, 345,000, and

765,000 volts (69, 138, 345, and 765 kilovolts [kV], respectively).

 Transformers – electrical equipment that either increases or decreases the

voltage as required. Transmission system transformers are large and are

located in special facilities called transmission substations.

 Transmission substations – connection points in the electric power grid

where transmission lines are brought together. Substations generally contain

several transformers and switching gear. The latter allows electric power to

be moved along different pathways. Substations also contain protective

equipment (e.g., circuit breakers) that disconnects equipment from the

electric power grid if a fault is detected. Multiple transmission substations,

some within the Chicago Metropolitan Area and others outside of the region,

provide service to the six-county region.

A summary description of the electric power infrastructure in the Chicago

Metropolitan Area is presented, and the possible types of disruptions are

discussed.
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Distribution systems are composed of lower-voltage equipment that brings

electricity from the electric grid to individual residential, commercial, and

industrial customers. ComEd owns and operates most of the distribution system

in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Several municipalities — Geneva, Naperville,

St. Charles, and Winnetka — own and operate their own distribution systems.

These municipalities purchase power on a wholesale contract basis from ComEd

and other electric companies for distribution to their customers. The distribution

system includes the following components:

 Feeder lines – higher-voltage lines that carry electricity into a specific area

for a number of customers. The Chicago Metropolitan Area includes feeder

lines of 4,000, 12,000, or 34,000 volts (4, 12, or 34 kV, respectively). Several

thousand feeder lines are used to provide service in the Chicago Metropolitan

Area.

 Distribution system transformers – “step down,” or decrease, the feeder

voltage to the customer service voltage. Most of these transformers are small

and are mounted on utility poles. Other distribution transformers are

designed to handle higher distribution voltages. These transformers are large

and are located in distribution substations.

 Distribution substations – connection points in the distribution system where

power lines are brought together. Distribution substations are similar to

transmission substations, except that they operate at the lower voltages of the

distribution system. Some substations serve as both distribution and

transmission connection points.

 Customer service lines – lines that bring electricity into the customers’

facility. Most residential and commercial customer service lines are

110 / 220 volts. Higher-voltage lines might be used to deliver electricity to

industrial and special facilities.

2.2 ELECTRIC POWER SERVICE DISRUPTIONS

Several types of disruptions to electric power service can affect customers. The

most common disruptions are listed below:

 Interruption – a complete loss of electrical service, commonly known as a

“power outage.” A power outage might affect only one customer (e.g., if the

customer’s service line is cut) or, in extreme cases, it might be regionwide.

Although the Chicago Metropolitan Area has not experienced a regionwide

power outage, other parts of the country have had regionwide outages

(e.g., the outage in 14 western states in 1996, the blackout in several

northeastern states in 1965).
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 Voltage fluctuation – a change in the voltage of the electricity provided to

customers, either up or down, without a total loss of power. A voltage drop,

commonly known as a “brownout,” is most frequently observed during

periods of peak demands for electricity. In times of system overloads, a

power company can decrease voltage to avoid outages. The Illinois

Commerce Commission allows small decreases in voltage. Voltage

increases, or surges, while less common, are potentially more damaging,

especially to electronic equipment. Large voltage surges have occurred in

other parts of the country.

 Frequency fluctuation – a change in the frequency of the AC power that is

supplied. The nominal frequency is 60 cycles and normally varies only

slightly. Frequency fluctuation is relatively rare. Its most noticeable impact is

that clocks and other timing equipment run either fast or slow.

Classification of Interruptions

The electric power industry does not have a universal agreement for classifying

interruptions. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that differing types of

outages are possible so that plans can be made to deal with them in an effective

manner. Several parameters have been established for classifying interruptions.

They are discussed below.

Availability of Advance Notice

At times, an advance warning of an interruption can enable customers to prepare

for it. Other times, interruptions occur without warning and cannot be announced

in advance. On this basis, interruptions can be grouped into five categories:

 Intentional interruption – scheduled. Some interruptions are intentional and

can be scheduled in advance. For example, an interruption might be

necessary when components of the power system are taken out of service for

maintenance or upgrading. Warnings for this type of interruption are

generally announced 72 hours in advance for system components that operate

at 34 kV or higher and 48 hours in advance for system components that

operate at 12 kV or lower. Scheduled intentional interruptions can last from

several minutes to several hours.

 Intentional interruption – unscheduled. Some intentional interruptions must

be done “on the spot.” As a result, the level of advance notice dictated by a

scheduled interruption cannot be provided. For example, a fire department or

a police department might request an interruption in service during a fire or

an accident.

 Intentional interruption – demand-side management. Some customers

(i.e., on the demand side) have entered into an agreement with ComEd to

curtail their demand for electricity during periods of peak system loads. In

return for agreeing to these interruptions, these customers receive a lower
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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return for agreeing to these interruptions, customers receive a lower

electricity rate and/or a rebate. ComEd has more than a dozen demand-side

management options available for selected customers.

 Intentional interruption – load shedding. When the power system is under

extreme stress because of heavy demand and/or failure of critical

components, it is sometimes necessary to intentionally interrupt the service to

selected customers to prevent the entire system from collapsing. In such

cases, customer service (or load) is cut, sometimes with little or no warning.

One form of load shedding — called a “rolling blackout” — involves cutting

service to selected customers for a predetermined period (usually not more

than two hours). As power is restored to one block of customers, power to

another block of customers is interrupted to keep the overall load on the

system down. Load shedding plans are included in ComEd’s Emergency

Load Conservation Plan. This plan is discussed further in Section 5.

 Unplanned interruption. Unplanned interruptions are outages that come with

essentially no advance notice. This type of interruption is the most

problematic. ComEd uses the following categories to classify unplanned

interruptions:

– accident by ComEd, a ComEd contractor, or others

– dig-in by ComEd, a ComEd contractor, or others

– malfunction, or equipment failure, due, for example, to age, improper

operation, excessive operation, or manufacturing defect; special

subcategories cover broken fuse links and underground cable, joint, or

termination failures

– overload on either ComEd’s equipment or a customer’s equipment

– reduced capability, that is, equipment that cannot operate within its

design criteria

– tree contact other than from storms

– vandalism, or intentional damage

– weather, including ice/snow, lightning, wind, and broken tree limbs

– wildlife

– other causes

– unknown causes

Number of Customers Affected

The number of customers affected during an outage is an important criterion for

classifying interruptions. It is essential to recognize that the term “customer”

refers to the individual or organization listed as the electricity bill payer. In other

words, the number of customers affected is not the same as the number of people

affected. Interruption of electrical service to a single customer such as a company

office building might, in fact, affect hundreds of individuals.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Duration of Interruption

The duration of an interruption is an important measure of its impact. In general,

the duration of an interruption is tabulated in the following categories:

 Less than 1 minute

 Approximately 15 minutes or less

 Approximately 2 hours or less

 Approximately 2–6 hours

 More than 6 hours

While interruptions of a few minutes or less are usually merely a nuisance to

customers, on occasion they can be serious. For example, interruptions to

computer equipment could result in loss of information; interruptions to

manufacturing processes could result in loss of a batch process; and interruptions

to individuals who rely on electrically powered life support equipment could

result in a medical emergency.

At the other extreme, interruptions of several hours can have serious

consequences to public health and safety. In the most serious cases, these

disruptions have resulted in a breakdown of civil order.

Special Facility, Customer, or Area Affected

In some cases an interruption of electrical service affects a critical facility

(e.g., hospital, school, police station, fire house, water pumping station, high-rise

building, airport), a sensitive individual (e.g., one who uses medical support

equipment at home), or a special area (e.g., the downtown commercial zone and

shopping areas). These interruptions could involve public health and safety

issues, significant economic impacts, or other special issues.

Interpretation and Use of Reliability Indices

There is no universally agreed-upon way to measure the reliability of the electric

power system. Utilities in various parts of the United States use different

measures. Even when the same terminology is used, the way in which the

information is gathered and processed is not consistent, which makes it difficult

to compare reliability among utilities. Attempts have not yet been successful in

establishing a nationally uniform method for measuring system reliability. Until

such standards are adopted, the following reliability measures are the only ones

available for use in the Chicago Metropolitan Area:

 Number of interruptions. ComEd includes all interruptions irrespective of

duration, the number of customers affected, the availability of advance
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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notice, or special areas affected. This measure serves as a gross indicator of

how well the system is performing, but it does not take into account the

significance of the interruption.

 System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI). With this index, the

reliability of the system is expressed in terms of the average number of

interruptions per customer. To determine the SAIFI value, the total number

of customer interruptions is divided by the total number of customers in the

system. A SAIFI value of 2.0 means that, on average, customers experience

two interruptions per year. The SAIFI value is calculated monthly (with

information from the previous 12-month period) and is provided for (1) the

ComEd system as a whole, (2) the portions of the system that are within the

City of Chicago, and (3) the portions of the system that are in the

surrounding areas.

 Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI). With this index, the

reliability of the system is expressed in terms of the average duration of an

interruption. To determine the CAIDI value, the total duration (in minutes) of

all interruptions is divided by the number of interruptions. Thus, a CAIDI of

90 indicates that the average duration of an interruption was 11⁄2 hours

(90 minutes). The CAIDI value is calculated on a monthly basis (with

information from the previous 12-month period) and is provided for the same

geographical distribution as that for the SAIFI value.

 System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI). With this index, the

reliability of the system is expressed in terms of the average number of

minutes in a year that service to the typical customer is interrupted. The

SAIDI value is calculated by multiplying the value of SAIFI (the average

number of interruptions per customer per year) by the value of CAIDI (the

average number of minutes per interruption). Thus, with a SAIFI of 2.0 and a

CAIDI of 90, the SAIDI value would be 180 (90 x 2.0) — meaning that the

average customer would be without power for 3 hours (180 minutes) per

year.

 Worst-performing circuits. The reliability of the system can also be

expressed by identifying the worst-performing feeder circuits. ComEd uses

the worst 1% of this category to identify the most problematic circuits. The

SAIFI and CAIDI values are calculated for each circuit, and the worstperforming circuits from each measure are identified.
10

3 ESTABLISHING ELECTRIC POWER DISRUPTION

PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 IDENTIFICATION OF LEAD ORGANIZATIONS

IN A MUNICIPALITY

Each municipality is organized in a different way and has its own structure for

dealing with the electric power system and potential disruptions to it. Table 3.1

lists typical municipal departments and the major responsibilities that relate to

the electric power infrastructure. For any municipality, it is important to

designate a lead organization(s) to develop an electric power disruption plan and

to coordinate the municipality’s activities during an actual power outage.

Planning for electric power disruptions should be performed at the same time that

a municipality plans for other emergencies such as tornadoes, floods, heavy

snowfall, or toxic chemical spills. In most cases, planning for a power outage is

an aspect of emergency preparedness, and departments often exercise the same

functions that they would perform when responding to other emergency events.

Some aspects, however, are unique to power outages (as described in the

following sections), and these points should be specifically incorporated into the

emergency planning process.

3.2 RELEVANT MUNICIPAL AGREEMENTS AND ORDINANCES

The provision of electrical service in the Chicago Metropolitan Area is generally

covered under one or more municipal agreements and ordinances that involve the

municipal government and ComEd. With regard to electric power disruption

planning, the most important are discussed in the following sections.

The first — and often the most important — element used to prepare to

respond to an electric power disruption is the designation of responsibility.

The municipal departments and individuals who are responsible for

designing and implementing the electric power disruption plan should be

clearly identified. In many cases, these responsibilities will overlap with

other routine responsibilities, such as public works management, police

protection, fire protection, and emergency response. A clear designation of

responsibility for electric power issues is an important first step.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Table 3.1 Typical Municipal Departments and Electric Power

Responsibilities

Department Typical Electric Power Infrastructure Responsibilities

Municipal

Manager

 Oversight of electric power franchise agreement

 Preparation of municipal electric power disruption plans

Public Works

 Operation and maintenance of municipal electric power equipment

 Deployment of emergency generation equipment during disruptions

 Reduction of municipal power loads during peak demand periods

 Operation of water supply and wastewater treatment facilities

during outages

Police

 Emergency response during outages

 Traffic control when automatic traffic signals are out

 Protection against criminal activity during outages

 Securing of areas with fallen power lines

Fire

 Emergency response during outages

 Response to alarms activated by outages

 Rescue of people stranded by outages (e.g., in elevators)

Emergency

Medical Services

 Emergency response during an outage to assist people who use

electrically powered medical support equipment

 Emergency response to other medical needs during outages

Human Services

 Communication with elderly and disabled persons during outages

 Assistance in relocating people to shelters during extended

outages

School District

 Planning and implementation of backup generation in schools

 Evacuation of students from school buildings during outages

Public Health  Determination of outage impacts on food spoilage

Emergency

Management  Coordination of response during major or extended outages

Municipal Electric Power Franchise Agreement

Most municipalities have a franchise agreement that covers the construction,

operation, and maintenance of the electric power system within their boundaries.

Appendix B contains a model franchise agreement that has been adopted by

many municipalities in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, each with their own

modifications, for use with ComEd. The provisions of the model franchise

agreement that are most significant to electric power disruption planning are

discussed below.

Designation of Representatives

Municipal Electric Representative. Section 1.15 in the model agreement calls for

the identification of the person who will represent the municipality during regular

business hours.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

12

Municipal Emergency Electric Representative. Section 1.16 calls for the

identification of the person who will represent the municipality during

emergencies and at times other than regular business hours.

ComEd Representative and ComEd Emergency Representative. Sections 1.6 and

1.7 call for the identification of the ComEd positions that are the counterparts to

the municipal representatives described above.

Many municipalities have designated either the municipal manager or the

director of public works as their electric representative and the chief of the fire

department or the police department as their emergency representative. The

important point is that someone should be designated to represent the

municipality on electric power issues on an around-the-clock basis.

Service Interruptions

Section 5.5 of the model agreement deals with service interruptions, both planned

and unplanned. The model agreement provides these definitions:

 Interruption. Any condition in which the voltage is reduced to less than 50%

of the standard voltage for a period of 1 minute or more.

 Major service interruption. Any interruption that results in (1) an outage of

1,000 kVA that persists for 15 minutes or more, or (2) an outage that lasts for

15 minutes or more and has a “significant impact,” where the term is to be

defined by mutual agreement between the municipality and ComEd.

As part of the service interruption section, the model agreement calls for ComEd

to notify the municipality of any major service interruptions within 1 hour, to

provide 24-hour advance notice of maintenance or repair work that will cause an

interruption, to maintain records of all interruptions, and to provide reports to the

municipality on a regular basis.

Apart from these provisions and some related items, the model franchise

agreement does not specifically spell out steps to be taken for dealing with

electric power disruptions.

Municipal Emergency Energy Ordinance

To cover the issues associated with emergency conditions, some municipalities

have adopted a special emergency energy ordinance. Appendix C contains a

model ordinance that was developed by the Northwest Municipal Conference,

one of the Councils of Government in the region. It has been distributed to all

municipalities that participate in the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

The model emergency energy ordinance focuses on dealing with controlled

rotating interruptions, or rolling blackouts, which ComEd uses in times of

significant stress on the electric system. ComEd has developed a plan whereby
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

13

sections of a service area will be cut off from electrical service, usually during

periods of 2 hours or less at a time, in periods of stress. As one section is restored

to service, the next one in the sequence is cut off. This process is a drastic

measure used by ComEd to keep the entire electric system from collapsing under

pressures of high demand, failed components, and/or cascading failures that are

the result of problems outside the ComEd service area.

The model ordinance requires ComEd to prepare an emergency energy plan that

covers the situations during which it would be necessary to implement rolling

blackouts. The plan must also be submitted to the municipality for review and

approval. The plan must provide details on the following:

 Circumstances that will require implementation of the plan,

 Stages of the plan,

 Geographical areas that will be affected,

 Number of customers that will be affected,

 Critical facilities (e.g., police, fire, hospitals, etc.) that will be affected,

 Persons on medical support equipment that will be affected, and

 Anticipated sequence and duration of interruptions.

The ordinance requires ComEd to notify the affected municipality that the plan

will be implemented. A separate notification that rolling blackouts will be used

must be given at least 30 minutes (if possible, 2 hours) before they commence.

The model ordinance focuses on dealing with situations that might require rolling

blackouts. It does not address interruptions that occur under other conditions

(e.g., storms, equipment failure), nor does it address response procedures for

interruptions or restoration activities.

3.3 OTHER ORGANIZATION RESOURCES

AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Municipalities can draw on other organizations for information, technical advice,

and sharing of experiences in electric power disruption planning. The most

significant contacts are described in the following sections. The final section of

this report contains a detailed directory of points of contact.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

14

County Organizations

All six counties in the Chicago Metropolitan Area have emergency management

agencies — the county organizations most involved with emergency

preparedness. These organizations have the responsibility for preparing and

implementing countywide emergency plans that cover a wide variety of events

and emergency conditions. Municipalities can draw on the resources maintained

by the county emergency management agencies for their own planning efforts.

State Organizations

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is the organization

charged with dealing with all major emergency situations in Illinois. IEMA is

responsible for coordinating the efforts of the state, private organizations,

political subdivisions, and the federal government in disaster mitigation,

preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

The Illinois Commerce Commission is the state organization that regulates public

utilities, including ComEd, in Illinois. It establishes the rules and regulations

under which electricity is provided and priced.

Federal Organizations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responsibility for

supporting state and local governments in dealing with disasters that require

more than local resources can handle. FEMA becomes involved once the

President, at the request of a state’s governor, has declared a region a disaster

area. FEMA coordinates the activities of federal agencies that can provide

services, resources, and personnel to perform necessary functions, such as

transporting food and potable water to the area, assisting with medical aid and

temporary housing for people whose homes are uninhabitable, and providing

generators for electric power to keep hospitals and other essential facilities in

operation. FEMA also works with states, territories, and communities during

nondisaster periods to help plan for disasters, develop mitigation programs, and

anticipate what will be needed when major disasters occur.

Among its other functions, FEMA coordinates the development of the Federal

Response Plan, which “...establishes a process and structure for the systematic,

coordinated, and effective delivery of [f]ederal assistance to address the

consequences of any major disaster or emergency declared under the

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act....” 2

Section 12 of the plan identifies the federal agencies responsible for providing

support during an energy emergency. Among the federal agencies that are

providing assistance in declared disasters that involve energy, including electric

power disruptions, are the following:

 

2

 The Federal Response Plan is issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as document 9230.1-PL.

The most recent issue is dated April 1999.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

15

 The Department of Energy serves as the primary agency and is the focal

point for energy issues in all response and restoration efforts.

 The Department of Defense deals with restoring energy service to critical

defense facilities.

 The Department of State coordinates involvement of foreign nations and

international organizations.

 The Department of Transportation focuses on issues that deal with pipelines

that provide natural gas and oil.

 The National Communications System provides assistance in the restoration

of telecommunications service.

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission provides assistance related to nuclear

power plants.
16

4 PREDISRUPTION PLANNING

4.1 CRITICAL FACILITIES

Identification of Critical Facilities

Critical facilities are those buildings, areas, or systems that could experience

significant impacts if electrical service were lost. While every home, office,

commercial establishment, or industrial factory is affected by the loss of

electrical service, some are more important than others when considering the

allocation of scarce municipal resources to protect them from damage. General

guidelines for identifying a facility as “critical” include the following:

 Impact on public health and safety. The loss of electrical service to some

facilities can significantly affect public health and safety. Examples of such

facilities include police and fire stations, hospitals, nursing homes, water

pumping stations, railroad crossings, and industrial facilities that handle

hazardous materials.

 Impact on orderly functioning. At some facilities, the loss of electrical

service can cause significant disruption to the orderly functioning of

government, business, and private citizen activities. Although direct health

and safety issues might not be a consideration, the loss of electrical service

can have significant consequences. Examples of these types of facilities

include traffic intersections, where heavy congestion can develop; elevatorserved, high-rise buildings, where people can be forced to climb many steps

to get into or out of the building; auditoriums, where loss of power can create

difficulties for a large number of people exiting the facility; and facilities

equipped with security alarms that are triggered by loss of power and that

require numerous investigations by municipal response personnel.

 Impact on the economy. Some facilities might experience significant

economic loss as a result of electrical service disruptions. Examples include

industrial factories, food-handling establishments (restaurants,

supermarkets), and computer-based businesses. Facility owners might

A municipality can take various steps to prepare for electric power

disruptions. Figure 4.1 illustrates these steps, which are described in more

detail in this section.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

17

Identify Critical

Facilities

 Gather information

 Prioritize response

Identify Power-OutageSensitive Individuals

 Gather information

 Prioritize response

Conduct Vulnerability Assessment

 Review and assess feeder and substation status

 Review and assess critical facility and poweroutage-sensitive individual feeder connections

 Review and assess existing backup measures

Evaluate Alternative Measures

 Technical evaluation

 Cost evaluation

 Implementation considerations

Figure 4.1 Predisruption Planning Process

Implement Selected

Measures
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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experience economic impacts in the short term (e.g., food spoilage), or the

municipality might experience impacts in the long term, such as relocation of

businesses that cannot cope with frequent power outages.

 Impact on other infrastructures. Loss of electrical service at some facilities

can affect other infrastructures. For example, loss of power at a telephone

switching office can interrupt communications, and loss of power at a natural

gas compressor station can affect gas delivery. In worst-case conditions,

these effects, known as “infrastructure interdependencies,” can cascade into

an emergency situation.

In applying these general guidelines, more specific criteria must also be

considered to ensure that available resources are properly allocated. It is more

important to identify as critical facilities those that will require a significant

municipal response (e.g., fire, police, emergency medical services, public works)

during a power outage rather than those that will require little or no municipal

response. Currently, no universally accepted set of criteria is in place for use in

identifying critical facilities in all situations.

Table 4.1 lists facilities that can be classified as “critical” and examples of

specific criteria that can be used to focus on the most important facilities. The

types of facilities and the specific criteria in the table are intended to be

illustrative rather than comprehensive. Municipalities should modify these

criteria to meet local needs and requirements.

Gathering of Critical Facility Information

Municipalities can gather information on critical facilities from various sources.

In fact, many municipalities already have assembled a list of important facilities

as a result of other emergency planning activities. The recent Y2K planning

efforts, for example, resulted in the development of relatively up-to-date lists.

Many county and state emergency preparedness organizations also maintain such

lists.

A key piece of data on critical facilities for electric power disruption planning is

the current electrical service at each facility. In addition to the general

information about a facility, it is important to gather details about the following

items:

 ComEd feeder line(s) that serve the facility,

 Availability of electric power backup systems,

 Type of backup system (e.g., diesel generator, battery system),

 Maximum operation time of backup system,
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Table 4.1 Typical Critical Facilities and Criteria

Type of

Facilitya Examplea

Typical Criteria That Can Be Applied

to Determine Criticalityb

Emergency

Services

Police stations

Fire stations

Paramedic stations

Emergency communication transmitters

All facilities considered critical

Water System Water supply pumping stations

Wastewater pumping stations and treatment

plants

Facilities needed to provide sufficient pumping

capacity to maintain minimum flow rates and

minimum pressure

Transportation Traffic intersections

Aviation terminals and air traffic control

Railroad crossings

Electric rail systems

Major traffic intersections only

All aviation facilities

All protected rail crossings

All electric rail systems

Medical Hospitals, nursing homes

Mental health treatment facilities

Specialized treatment centers (e.g., outpatient surgery, dialysis, cancer therapy)

Rehabilitation centers

Blood donation centers

All facilities that require a state license to

operate

Facilities with any patients on electrically

powered life support equipment

Schools Nursery schools, kindergarten,

elementary schools, high schools, colleges,

business and trade schools

All schools when in session

Day Care Registered day care facilities

Sitter services

After school centers

All facilities that require a state license to

operate

Senior Senior citizen centers

Retirement communities

All facilities that require a state license to

operate

Social Service Homeless/transient shelters

Missions and soup kitchens

Youth, family, and battered person shelters

Heating/cooling shelters

Facilities that require regular municipal fire

safety inspections

Detention

Centers

Jails

Youth detention centers

All facilities

Community

Centers

Libraries

Civic centers

Recreational facilities

Facilities that require regular municipal fire

safety inspections

Public

Assembly

Sports stadiums, concert auditoriums,

theaters, cinemas, religious facilities,

shopping malls, conference centers,

museums, art centers

Facilities that require regular municipal fire

safety inspections

Hotels Hotels, motels, boarding houses Facilities required to register under tax laws

High-rise

Buildings

Apartments, condos, office buildings Buildings seven stories or higher

Food Service Restaurants

Grocery stores

Supermarkets

Food processing facilities

Facilities required to register under tax laws

Facilities with significant food quantities stored

on the premises

Industry Hazardous material handling All facilities

a The types of facilities and examples are illustrative rather than comprehensive.

b

 These specific criteria are illustrative. There is no universal agreement on the numbers or types of facilities shown

here. Municipalities must adjust these criteria to meet local needs.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

20

 Availability of rapid connection capability for hook-up of portable

generators, and

 Suitability of the facility as a temporary shelter during widespread, extended

outages.

Appendix D contains a sample survey form that can be used to collect the

necessary information on critical facilities.

In addition to using a survey form to gather information, municipalities can

conduct on-site inspections of selected facilities to determine the specifics of

their electric power supply system and to identify any enhancements that are

necessary. For the most part, municipalities will perform this type of inspection

for municipality-owned and -operated facilities. On occasion, it might prove

beneficial to inspect selected privately owned facilities as well.

Prioritization of Critical Facilities for Response

Once the information on critical facilities has been gathered, it is important to

review the list and establish priorities for response during different types of

electric power disruptions. Some critical facilities might require an immediate

response in the event of any interruption of service because of the potential for

immediate, significant public health and safety impacts. Other critical facilities

might require a response only in the event of a lengthy disruption. Also, if a

widespread interruption affected numerous critical facilities, it might be

necessary to allocate available response resources (e.g., police, fire, emergency

medical) to those critical facilities most in need. This type of “facility triage”

might already be included as part of response plans that deal with other

emergencies. These other plans should be reviewed to determine how they deal

with electrical service interruptions.

Response priorities for critical facilities vary according to local requirements and

needs. Some of the factors to be considered are listed below:

 Length of time before the occurrence of serious impacts. Critical facilities

that might experience effects almost immediately warrant rapid response.

 Nature of potential impacts. Critical facilities that involve potential public

safety impacts might warrant a more rapid response than those with just

potential inconvenience impacts.

 Availability of backup power supplies. Critical facilities with backup

generation capability might not need immediate response.

 Number and groups of people potentially affected. Critical facilities where a

large number of people would be affected might warrant a more rapid

response than those where only a few would be affected. Also, critical
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

21

facilities that serve primarily seniors or children might require more rapid

response than those that serve primarily able-bodied adults.

Table 4.2 gives categories that can be used to prioritize critical facility responses.

This listing, however, is intended to be illustrative, not comprehensive. Section 5

discusses how an actual response might be implemented for different types of

outages.

Table 4.2 Sample Response Priority Classification for Critical Facilities

Critical Facility Response Priority

Examples of the Types

of Critical Facilities That Might Be

Included in This Priority Classa

Immediate Response

 Highest priority for response under any

interruption conditions

 Potential for immediate, serious impacts

 Most of these high-priority facilities will have or

should have power backup capability.

Emergency service facilities, including

police, fire, and emergency medical

services

Medical facilities, for example, hospitals

Road intersections

Railroad crossings

Response in First 2 Hours

 High priority for response for all disruptions up

to 2 hours

 Contact is initiated with all facilities in this

category to determine needed response.

Medical facilities, including nursing

homes and medical offices

Schools, including nursery schools and

elementary schools

High-rise buildings

Response in First 6 Hours

 Priority for response when disruptions last

longer than 2 hours

 Response needed within 6 hours

 Contact is initiated with all facilities in this

category to determine the necessary response.

Water facilities, including water supply

and wastewater treatment

Response on Call

 Lower priority, but still critical

 Response is made upon a request for

assistance from a facility.

Public assembly

Commercial or industrial property

a

 The facilities listed in each response category are for illustrative purposes only.

Municipalities must develop these response priorities to meet local needs.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Special Considerations for Infrastructure Interdependencies

As noted previously, in some critical facilities, the loss of electrical service could

affect other infrastructures (e.g., telephone switching offices, natural gas

compressor stations). These installations, many of which are owned and operated

by private companies, are not usually included on a municipality’s critical facility

list. Nevertheless, it is in the best interest of a municipality to identify these

facilities and discuss with the owners how their facilities should be treated during

a power outage. There could be situations in which the municipality could assist

the company owner in protecting the facility from, and/or mitigating against, any

damage from power outages. Such actions could prevent a cascading

infrastructure failure event that could have serious impacts on the municipality.

4.2 POWER-OUTAGE-SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

Identification of Power-outage-sensitive Individuals

Power-outage-sensitive individuals are people who would be seriously affected

by an interruption in electrical service, including individuals who use electrically

powered medical support equipment, elderly people who live alone, and disabled

individuals. For those people who use medical support equipment

(e.g., respirators, automatic medication dispensers), short-term interruptions can

be serious or even life threatening.

Gathering of Information on Power-outage-sensitive Individuals

Collecting information on power-outage-sensitive individuals can require a great

deal of effort and resources. To be genuinely useful, the information must be kept

up to date. There are two basic ways to gather this information: use existing

government agency contacts or rely on self-reporting.

Social service organizations and emergency response agencies within a

community (e.g., public health department, human resources department,

emergency medical services, 911 response center) often have lists of individuals

who need special attention for medical purposes or other reasons. These lists

generally include people who would be considered power-outage-sensitive. The

manner in which such social service and emergency response lists are compiled

and updated varies widely among communities. In addition, the extent to which

this information is available to a municipality for purposes of electric power

disruption planning is variable. In any case, a municipality that decides to

compile a list of power-outage-sensitive individuals should first consult with

local social service and emergency response organizations to determine whether

this information is already available. In addition to local organizations, county

and state organizations are also potential sources of this information.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

23

The second method used for gathering this information is to rely on individual

self-reporting. Appendix E gives an example of a survey questionnaire that is

used for self-reporting. It was developed by one of the communities in the

Chicago Metropolitan Area. The structure of the questionnaire lends itself to

collecting information that is useful for dealing with emergencies other than

power outages.

Whatever technique is used to gather information on power-outage-sensitive

individuals, it is extremely important to maintain the privacy of the individuals.

There are both legal and ethical requirements to ensure that this information is

not disclosed to unauthorized people. Section 10 gives guidelines on information

security.

Prioritization of Power-outage-sensitive Individuals for Response

In cases of extended electric power interruptions, municipal resources might be

stretched thin, and responding to the needs of power-outage-sensitive individuals

might require the establishment of priorities or “triage.” Because an extensive

power outage could result in a large number of calls for assistance, it is important

to plan for a prioritized response. Many municipalities already have a

prioritization scheme in place to deal with other emergencies.

4.3 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL VULNERABILITIES

A municipal electric power vulnerability assessment combines the information

on the status of the electric power system in the jurisdiction with information on

the critical facilities and power-outage-sensitive individuals. The objective of this

assessment is to determine the municipality’s reliance on the electric power

infrastructure and to project what the impacts might be if parts of it were

disrupted. Note that this is not an assessment of the probability that the power

will go out; ComEd performs this type of analysis. Rather, it is an assessment of

the potential impacts on the municipality from various types of outages. An

electric power vulnerability assessment requires a municipality to perform the

following tasks:

 Review and assess feeder and substation status. The feeders and substations

that serve the community are identified from information provided by

ComEd. The feeders that serve the municipality are reviewed to determine

whether any are on the list of worst-performing feeders or are projected to be

overloaded during peak system loads. The substations that serve the

municipality are also reviewed to determine whether any are on the projected

overload list. Further, the feeder connections to substations are reviewed to

determine whether failures at one or a few substations could significantly

affect the municipality.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

24

 Review and assess feeder connections for critical facilities and poweroutage-sensitive individuals. The feeder connections for critical facilities and

power-outage-sensitive individuals are reviewed to determine whether any

are on the worst-performing feeder or projected overload list. The feeder

connections also are reviewed to determine whether several critical facilities

and/or power-outage-sensitive individuals are connected to the same feeder.

If so, the loss of one feeder might disrupt a number of facilities and sensitive

individuals simultaneously.

 Review and assess backup measures in place for critical facilities and poweroutage-sensitive individuals. The backup systems (e.g., battery systems,

on-site backup generators, portable generators, quick-connect circuit boxes)

available at critical facilities and for power-outage-sensitive individuals are

reviewed and evaluated to determine whether they are adequate. In general,

municipalities undertake this type of review for the facilities they own and

operate. Some municipalities might find it useful to provide this review as a

service to privately owned facilities as well.

The forms in Appendix D, for gathering basic information on critical

facilities, also provide a means for conducting this review. In some cases,

however, it might be necessary for municipal staff or their contractors to

conduct an on-site inspection of a facility to clarify the actual status and

condition of the backup measures.

4.4 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE PREPAREDNESS MEASURES

Once a vulnerability assessment has been completed, municipalities should

consider implementing measures that can protect critical facilities and poweroutage-sensitive individuals from the serious impacts that could result from a

disruption. These measures should be considered carefully to ensure that scarce

municipal resources are allocated to those areas that would have the greatest

impact on the protection of public health and safety.

Available Measures

Several measures can be used to help critical facilities and power-outagesensitive individuals deal with potential disruptions in electrical service. Some

measures (e.g., backup generation) provide alternative sources of electric power

to replace that which is normally supplied by the power system. Other measures

(e.g., heating and cooling shelters) provide services needed to protect public

health and safety while an outage is in progress. Table 4.3 summarizes some of

the available options. The list is illustrative, not comprehensive. Appendix F

provides more detailed information.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

25

Table 4.3 Typical Preparedness Measures for Critical Facilities

and Power-outage-sensitive Individuals

Measure Example

Enhanced Grid Connection

Measures designed to provide more connections to the

electric power network and/or to provide power routing

options.

 Connection to multiple feeders

 Connection to multiple substations

 Networked systems

Alternative Power Supply

Emergency On-site Backup Generation

An emergency generator permanently installed on site

and started whenever an interruption occurs.

 Diesel-engine-driven

 Natural-gas-driven

 Manual or automatic startup

Emergency Portable Generation

An emergency generator mounted on a truck or trailer

that can be moved into position during an extended

power outage.

 Diesel-engine-driven

 Gasoline-engine-driven

 Quick-connection couplings

Battery Backup Systems

Battery-based systems designed to provide power for

a limited time, usually on the order of minutes or

hours.

 Uninterruptible power supplies

 Emergency lights

 Traffic signal backup

Distributed Generation

On-site generation equipment that runs continuously to

provide electricity.

 Conventional generation units

(e.g., natural-gas-powered, diesel)

 Renewable energy units (e.g., wind,

solar, biomass)

 Advanced technology units (e.g., fuel

cells)

Demand-side Management

Measures whereby customers (on the demand side)

voluntarily reduce their demand for electricity during

periods of peak load. Customers receive lower electricity

rates and/or rebates for lowering their demand.

 Various options offered by ComEd for

different customers

Outage Notification Systems

Automatic outage notification units that can provide instant

communication to ComEd and/or the municipality of a

power failure at a facility.

 Residential, commercial units

 Industrial units

Backup Communication

Communication equipment that can be used during power

outages

 Battery-powered emergency radio

equipment

 Backup battery recharge equipment

Manually Operated Traffic Control

Traffic control equipment that can be operated manually.  Drop-down stop signs

 Manual railroad crossing equipment

Shelters

Shelters that can be used to house people during a

prolonged or widespread outage.

 Summer cooling shelters

 Winter heating shelters
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

26

Evaluation of the Measures

A municipality should perform three types of evaluations to assess power outage

preparedness measures: technical, economic, and implementation. These

evaluations are discussed in the following sections.

Technical Evaluation

The technical evaluation, which addresses the feasibility and effectiveness of a

specific measure, should consider the following issues:

 Applicability. This issue addresses the question of whether the specific

measure under consideration would be effective. For example, adapting a

critical facility to use dual feeders would not be useful if both feeders were

connected to the same substation and the substation experienced an outage.

 Design. This part of the evaluation addresses the appropriate size and

operation of the measure under consideration. For example, a backup

generator must be appropriately sized to handle all or part of the load at the

facility where it is installed.

 Configuration. The manner in which the measure is configured can

significantly affect its effectiveness during an outage. For example, an

emergency generator with a manual startup would not be useful if the

operator could not reach it in time to get it into service when needed.

Economic Evaluation

An economic evaluation analyzes the costs of the measures necessary to ensure

preparedness. The following cost elements should be considered:

 Capital cost. The capital cost is primarily the expense of purchasing the

equipment from a vendor.

 Installation cost. This cost covers the installation of the equipment. In cases

where equipment is being retrofitted to an existing installation, this cost

could be a significant expense.

 Operation and maintenance costs. These costs include expenses incurred to

(1) keep the equipment ready to operate and (2) repair and maintain the

equipment. Costs for both labor and materials should be included. For

example, a qualified operator must test standby generators on a regular basis

and operate them during disruptions. Components must also be replaced on a

regular basis even if they are used only sporadically. Equipment vendors do

not always itemize operation and maintenance costs, and these can add up to

a major expense for the overall implementation of a measure.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

27

In addition to calculating these conventional costs, a cost-effectiveness or

cost/benefit evaluation should be carried out. These evaluations systematically

compare the cost of a measure with the benefits or outcomes that might result

from implementing it. These types of evaluations of the benefits of minimizing

the likelihood or severity of possible adverse situations are often described by the

terms risk analysis or risk management. In essence, this type of evaluation is

used to determine whether the cost of a measure (capital, installation, and

operating) is justified when compared with the potential impacts of an electric

power disruption.

A risk analysis that determines the cost/benefit of a particular measure can be

either very simple or very complex. In its simplest form, the question asked is,

“Is it reasonable to pay $X for this measure, which will enable the provision of

uninterrupted service during a power outage?” A qualitative assessment of the

situation is made, and a course of action is selected. For example, many computer

users are willing to pay very high costs to keep their systems operating during

power outages. The potential economic losses far outweigh the cost of the

equipment. As an alternative example, many municipalities do not want to incur

the costs of battery backup systems for all traffic lights in the community. Dropdown stop signs, which may be suitable for all but the busiest intersections, cost

much less.

A risk assessment also can be a rigorous quantitative evaluation of alternative

measures. In this type of assessment, an attempt is made to quantify the costs of a

power outage. These values can then be compared with the cost of the measure

being considered. If the cost is lower than the impact costs, the measure is

considered to be cost-effective. In general, detailed risk analyses, which can be

both time- and effort-intensive, are carried out only when large investments are

under consideration.

Implementation Evaluation

In addition to the technical and economic considerations, some measures need to

be evaluated for implementation issues. These issues can sometimes be the basis

for a “go/no-go” decision even when the technical and economic issues have

been resolved. Examples of implementation issues are given below:

 Environment and safety. Some measures require consideration of

environmental impacts (e.g., noise and air pollution from a backup generator)

and safety considerations (e.g., on-site fuel storage) before a decision can be

made.

 Installation. Some measures require special equipment or configurations to

be truly effective (e.g., quick-change electrical connections for using a

portable generator).

 Interdependencies. Some measures rely on the continued operation of a

different infrastructure, which may not always be available. For example,
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

28

natural-gas-fired backup generators are not useful in the event gas supply is

interrupted at the same time as electric power. Automatic outage notification

devices will not function if the telephone system is not working.

Implementation of Measures

Once the evaluations have been completed, the measures that offer the most

benefit should be implemented. The process by which implementation is done

depends on the measure and on the operational and procurement procedures of

each municipality. The only guidance that can be given on this issue is that

municipalities should consider implementation in the context of long-term

perspectives. Recent problems with system reliability will improve as ComEd

implements planned upgrades and enhancements. However, the system will

never be immune to disruptions. Natural events (e.g., storms), accidental events

(e.g., equipment failure), and intentional events (e.g., vandalism) will always

cause some degree of disruption to electric power service. Municipalities should

keep this reality in perspective as they work to allocate scarce resources.

Protective measures for electric power outages will always compete with other

municipal priorities. A careful consideration of the issues is needed to avoid

undesirable and unacceptable consequences.
29

5 DISRUPTION RESPONSE PLANNING

5.1 PLANNING FOR A STAGED RESPONSE

The concept of a “staged response” to an impending or actual disruption in

electric power service is based on the understanding that not all threatening

conditions (e.g., prolonged heat, storms) cause disruptions, and not all

disruptions affect the public to the same degree. Responses must be measured, or

“staged,” to meet the expected and actual severity of the situation. Doing less

than is necessary could jeopardize public health and safety. Doing more than is

necessary could increase costs yet provide little or no real benefit to the public.

Table 5.1 shows a classification scheme for impending electric power

disruptions, which can help planners develop appropriate actions in anticipation

of disruptions. Table 5.2 shows a classification scheme for actual interruptions.

These classification schemes are not intended to be exact or precise; rather, they

provide a general framework for planning staged responses to disruptions under

different conditions.

5.2 NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNICATION

Experience gained during previous interruptions of electric power service has

highlighted the importance of early notification and communication. Early

notification about impending problems gives emergency responders lead time to

prepare to take effective actions. Continuing and accurate communication during

a disruption minimizes public anxiety and maintains confidence that the situation

is under control.

Types of Notification Received from ComEd and Channels

of Communication

The primary means of notification and communication about electric power

disruptions originates with ComEd and is then given to municipal officials. The

agreements between a municipality and ComEd identify the specific channels of

communication and the details of what is to be communicated. Section 2

If an electric power disruption appears imminent or actually occurs, the

municipal government must respond rapidly, effectively, and appropriately.

The steps involved in planning proper response actions are examined in this

section.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

30

Table 5.1 Classification Scheme for Impending Electric Power

Disruptions

Electricity Alert

This phase provides an early warning of potential problems. There are indications that

the electric power system is becoming stressed. Actual interruptions may or may not

have occurred, but the potential for multiple outages is increasing. Indicators that lead

to issuing an Alert include the following:

Heat Watch. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates the possibility of a

heat index between 90o

F and 104oF on any given day in the next three-day period.

Tornado Watch. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates that weather

conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes or for tornadoes to move into

the area.

Winter Storm Watch. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates that

conditions are favorable for the development of severe winter weather.

ComEd Alert. Issued when the electric power system may not be able to supply

energy for one or more hours, or when energy constraints, load, or weather

conditions prompt the company to implement steps in its Emergency Load

Conservation Plan (to avoid or prepare for controlled rotating interruptions) or in its

Summer Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Electricity Warning

This phase indicates further deterioration of the electric power system and a high

likelihood for widespread power outages. Indicators that lead to issuing a Warning

include the following:

Heat Warning. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates the possibility of a

heat index between 90oF and 104oF for at least a three-day period.

Tornado Warning. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates that weather

radar and/or weather spotters and law enforcement officials have sighted a tornado.

Winter Storm Warning. Issued by the National Weather Service. Indicates that

severe winter weather is forecast for the area.

ComEd Warning. Issued when reserve power levels are being used at a rate that

results in a high probability that service may need to be curtailed. ComEd begins to

implement steps in its Emergency Load Conservation Plan or in its Summer

Emergency Preparedness Plan. Also, ComEd opens its Transmission and

Distribution (T&D) Command Center.

Electricity Emergency

This phase indicates that the electric power system is stressed to the limit, and a single

event (e.g., equipment failure) could cause a major outage that affects a wide area for

an extended period of time. Indicators that lead to issuing an Emergency include:

Heat Emergency. Issued when the heat index is forecast to reach 105o

F or higher.

ComEd Emergency. Issued when reserve power has dropped below acceptable

levels and a single event would cause a major outage. ComEd implements steps in

its Emergency Load Conservation Plan or in its Summer Emergency Preparedness

Plan. Also, the ComEd T&D Command Center becomes fully operational.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

31

Table 5.2 Classification Scheme for Actual Electric Power

Disruptions

Limited Disruption

A localized interruption that affects a small number of customers and an interruption

that is of short or medium duration (approximately 2 hours or less).

Some of the conditions that can lead to a Limited Disruption include:

 Failure of a customer service line or transformer

 Tree contact or wildlife intrusion into equipment

 Dig-ins

 Vandalism

A Limited Disruption can be either planned (e.g., for maintenance/upgrade) or

unplanned.

Extended Disruption

A disruption that affects a neighborhood(s) or similar areas where multiple customers

are affected, and/or a disruption of long duration (between approximately 2 and

6 hours).

Some of the conditions that can lead to an Extended Disruption are the same as those

that would lead to a Limited Disruption and include:

 Feeder line failure

 Distribution substation failure

 Major maintenance or upgrade of system components

 Storm damage

An Extended Disruption can be either planned or unplanned.

Wide Area Disruption

A disruption that affects a wide area or perhaps an entire municipality and/or a

disruption of extended duration (more than 6 hours).

Some of the conditions that can lead to a Wide Area Disruption are the same as those

that lead to Limited or Extended Disruptions and include:

 Transmission line or substation failure

 Multiple failures

Wide Area Disruptions are generally unplanned, although some major system

maintenance and upgrade activities can lead to such disruptions.

Regionwide Disruption

A disruption that affects a large part or perhaps all of a metropolitan area or an even

larger area that could extend across state lines.

The conditions that can lead to a Regionwide Disruption include:

 Generation shortages in the region

 Major transmission system failures

 Cascading failure of the power grid due to problems outside the region

Regionwide Disruptions are unplanned.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

32

described some general features of the municipal franchise agreement and the

municipal emergency energy ordinance. The items that govern notification and

communication, along with other issues, are summarized here.

Conditions That Require Notification

Depending on the details of the agreement between ComEd and a municipality,

the utility might be required to notify the municipality about the following

electric power events:

 Planned interruptions for maintenance and upgrades. Generally, ComEd

must provide 24-hour advance notice of any planned interruptions.

 Unplanned interruptions. Usually, ComEd must report all unplanned

interruptions of 1 MW or more or that last 15 minutes or more within 1 hour

of onset.

 Electricity Alert, Warning, Emergency. ComEd has internal criteria for

declaring an Alert, Warning, or Emergency condition. Some municipalities

have asked to be notified whenever the company declares one of these

conditions.

 Emergency Load Conservation Plan implementation. ComEd has a 15-step

program to deal with situations when load is expected to exceed available

supply. Some municipalities have asked to be notified whenever one or more

of these steps is implemented. Step 15 is the implementation of controlled

rotating interruptions (rolling blackouts). Municipalities that have adopted

the municipal energy emergency ordinance (see Appendix C) are to receive a

1-hour advance notice of an impending rotating interruption.

 Opening of ComEd Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Command Center.

The ComEd T&D Command Center generally is opened when Alert,

Warning, or Emergency conditions have been declared and/or when one or

more steps in the Emergency Load Conservation Plan have been

implemented. There are also some occasions when the center is opened in the

absence of these conditions. Some municipalities have asked to be notified

whenever the center is opened as an early warning of potential problems.

 Single or last contingency situation. When a piece of equipment

(e.g., transformer, cable) is out of service — either for maintenance or as a

result of a failure — and the failure of one more of the remaining

components of the system could lead to a significant interruption, the system

is said to be on either “single contingency” or “last contingency.” Some

municipalities have asked to be notified about such conditions if the last

contingency would affect their residents.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

33

Municipal Personnel to Be Notified

Generally, a number of individuals in a municipality receive notifications from

ComEd on the basis of agreements that have been reached with the company. As

a rule, municipalities should make multiple contacts available during business

and nonbusiness hours. The identification of a municipal electric representative

and a municipal emergency electric representative is provided in Sections 1.15

and 1.16, respectively, of the model franchise agreement in Appendix B.

Manner of Notification

The manner in which ComEd notifies a municipality depends on the

communication equipment available and the arrangements made between the

company and the municipality. At a minimum, the ComEd representative advises

a municipality about various situations by telephone and/or sends the municipal

office a fax. Under more extensive arrangements, the ComEd representative

notifies municipal personnel by using an electronic pager. In all cases, the

notification depends on the continued operation of the communications

equipment in the municipal office that is to receive the information. For example,

if a municipal office is to be notified via fax, but the equipment does not have

backup power, the notification process would be ineffective.

Recently, ComEd introduced an Internet-based system for providing

communications interruption information. The system — called E-Outage — is

available to all municipalities and provides an almost real-time summary of

outage situations. Municipalities can contact their ComEd representative to

obtain the necessary software and access authorization. As is the case for other

systems, the municipality must have its computer system operating on backup

power to access E-Outage during an actual interruption.

Information to Be Provided in a Notification

The information provided to municipalities varies, depending on the

arrangements that have been made with ComEd. To take appropriate steps, the

municipality must receive adequate information; however, it is counterproductive

for a municipality to receive so much information that it cannot be interpreted or

used effectively. “Information overload” during routine system operating

conditions can lead a municipality to discard very useful information in an actual

emergency.

During actual interruptions, the following information should be considered the

minimum amount that a municipality should be given as part of its notification

agreement with ComEd:

 Start time of the interruption,

 Geographical area affected,

 Number of customers affected,
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

34

 Expected duration, and

 Need for any municipal services (e.g., police, fire, emergency medical) to

assist ComEd crews in the restoration process.

Municipalities that are interested in receiving detailed information, and that have

the technical staff available to interpret and utilize it, can request more details,

including:

 Feeder(s) involved in the interruption,

 Substation(s) involved in the interruption,

 Equipment involved in the interruption, and

 Cause of the interruption.

Municipalities that are interested in receiving notification of last contingency

conditions can request the following:

 Start time of the condition;

 Expected duration of the condition;

 Nature of the contingency condition

– routine, advisory only

– alert, significant probability of an interruption;

 Equipment involved, including feeders, substations, and other equipment;

 In the event of an interruption

– geographical area that would be involved

– number of customers that would be affected; and

 Notice of the end of the contingency condition.

Notification Received from Local Citizens

The municipal office or 911 dispatch center often receives notification of an

interruption in electric service from a resident or business in the municipality.

When this occurs, it is important for municipalities or the 911 dispatch center to

advise residents and businesses to contact ComEd to report any outage. In many

cases, ComEd does not have any indication of an outage until a customer reports

it. Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is not possible for an electric utility to

detect all interruptions automatically. Automatic outage notification equipment

that plugs into a customer’s outlet and dispatches a notification to the company

via the telephone is undergoing tests. However, the equipment is costly and not

suitable for installation at every customer’s location. Municipal officials and 911
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

35

dispatchers responding to resident calls about power outages can best assist in the

restoration process by advising customers to call ComEd.

5.3 RESPONSE PROTOCOLS IN ANTICIPATION

OF A DISRUPTION

The following sections present some guidelines on ways in which municipalities

can respond to a notice of an impending disruption. Advance warnings provide a

municipality with the opportunity to mobilize personnel and equipment.

Experience has shown that this action provides important lead-time for dealing

with the most critical conditions in a timely manner and for mitigating the

consequences of a disruption.

In each of the actions identified in the following protocols, a responsible

municipal agency is identified. As discussed in Section 2, it is important to

determine who in a municipality is responsible for each aspect of dealing with

the electric power infrastructure. To implement the response protocols, it is

essential to know which municipal department is responsible for each action. The

following sections suggest an approach. Both the protocols and the assignment of

responsibilities must be adapted to meet specific local needs.

Response Protocol for Planned Interruptions

Planned interruptions generally offer the most lead-time — from days (for

scheduled maintenance or system upgrades) to hours (for rotating blackouts). The

focus of the response protocol for planned interruptions is to take the steps

necessary to prepare for the outage and to minimize the impacts. Table 5.3 lists

the actions required for this protocol. The actions are not necessarily sequential,

and it might be preferable to conduct some in parallel.

Response Protocol for an Electricity Alert

An Electricity Alert indicates the onset of problems that could result in a power

outage. The focus of the response protocol for an Electricity Alert is to notify

municipal staff of the impending situation and to begin preparations. In general,

at the time of an Alert, significant disruptions to electrical service have not yet

occurred. Only preliminary actions are taken at this stage to avoid unnecessary

expense and diversion of municipal personnel from other duties. Table 5.4 lists

the actions required for this protocol.

Response Protocol for an Electricity Warning

An Electricity Warning indicates that the probability of a significant power

outage has increased. The focus of the response protocol for an Electricity

Warning is to take steps to reduce power consumption and to begin implementing

more substantial actions. Significant power interruptions may or may not have
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

36

begun. It is not necessary for actual interruptions to have occurred in order to

implement Electricity Warning response actions. Table 5.5 lists the actions

required for this protocol.

Response Protocol for an Electricity Emergency

An Electricity Emergency indicates that the situation has deteriorated to the point

that a single event could lead to a widespread power outage. The focus of the

response protocol for an Electricity Emergency is to begin to deploy available

backup systems, to alert the public to be prepared for the high likelihood of an

outage, and to move municipal equipment and personnel into rapid response

positions. In general, some actual interruptions will have occurred at this stage;

however, it is not necessary for actual outages to have occurred in order to

implement the response protocol. Early implementation could decrease the

magnitude and impact of any outages. Table 5.6 lists the actions required for this

protocol.

Table 5.3 Response Protocol for Planned Interruptions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Receive notice from

ComEd of the

planned

interruption.

Municipal electric

representative

ComEd provides notice that an interruption will occur,

identifies the geographical area to be affected, and

gives the expected duration.

Inform municipal

departments.

Municipal response

manager

Appropriate municipal departments (e.g., police, fire,

emergency medical, public works) are informed of the

planned interruption.

Advise critical

facilities of the

planned

interruption.

Municipal public

affairs office

The location of any critical facility that will be affected

by the planned interruption is identified. The facility is

notified of the expected time and duration of the

interruption. (Note: ComEd can issue this notification,

depending on arrangements with the municipality.)

Advise poweroutage-sensitive

individuals of the

planned

interruption.

Human services Power-outage-sensitive individuals who could be

affected by the interruption are identified and notified.

A determination is made if special assistance

(e.g., medical service) is needed for the duration of

the interruption. (Note: ComEd can issue this

notification, depending on arrangements with the

municipality.)

Dispatch municipal

crews to the

affected municipal

facilities.

Public works Municipal crews are sent to any municipality-owned

critical facilities to start backup generation and/or to

deploy any other available measures during the

planned outage.

At the end of the

interruption, verify

the status of critical

facilities and poweroutage-sensitive

individuals.

Municipal public

affairs office

Human services

Critical facilities and power-outage-sensitive

individuals are contacted following the scheduled

completion of the interruption to verify that they have

returned to normal conditions.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

37

Table 5.4 Response Protocol for Electricity Alert

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Declare an

Electricity Alert.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions

for an Electricity Alert have occurred (see

Table 5.1), the appropriate municipal official

declares an Alert in the municipality.

Inform municipal

departments.

Municipal response

manager

Appropriate municipal departments

(e.g., police, fire, emergency medical, public

works) are informed of the Electricity Alert.

Establish contact

with the ComEd

representative.

Municipal electric

representative

A communication channel is established with

the designated ComEd representative.

Regular communication is maintained to track

the progress of the situation.

Advise residents

and businesses

in the

municipality.

Municipal public affairs

office

By using the communication media available

to the municipality (e.g., municipal cable

channel), residents and businesses are

advised of the Electricity Alert. The public is

advised to check the status of any backup

equipment and to monitor the situation.

Check the status

of municipal

backup

generation

equipment.

Public works The status of municipal backup generation

equipment is determined. The availability of

generator fuel is checked. Operational

readiness is verified. Required corrective

steps are taken to prepare for operation.

Check the status

of municipal

backup

communications

equipment.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Communication

center

The status of backup communications

equipment is determined. Operational

readiness is verified. Required corrective

steps are taken to prepare for operation.

If conditions

improve,

declare an end to

the Electricity

Alert.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions

for an Electricity Alert have passed, the

appropriate municipal official declares an end

to the alert. Municipal departments are

advised to return to normal operating status.

The public is advised.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

38

Table 5.5 Response Protocol for Electricity Warninga

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Declare an

Electricity Warning.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions for an

Electricity Warning have occurred (see Table 5.1), the

appropriate municipal official declares an Electricity

Warning in the municipality.

Inform municipal

departments.

Municipal response

manager

Appropriate municipal departments (e.g., police, fire,

emergency medical, public works) are informed of the

Electricity Warning.

Maintain contact

with the ComEd

representative.

Municipal electric

representative

The communications channel established with ComEd’s

designated representative is maintained. Regular

communications continue so that the progress of the

situation can be tracked.

Advise residents

and businesses in

the municipality to

reduce electricity

consumption.

Municipal public

affairs office

By using the communication media available to the

municipality (e.g., municipal cable channel), residents and

businesses are advised of the Electricity Warning. The

public is advised to reduce electricity consumption to take

load off the system. (Note: The public is also notified

directly by ComEd by means of broadcast media.)

Reduce municipal

electricity

consumption.

All municipal

departments

Electricity consumption at municipal facilities is reduced,

including turning off nonessential lighting and equipment,

reducing air-conditioning loads, and deferring nonessential

electricity-consuming activities.

Position municipal

crews to operate

backup equipment.

Public works Municipal personnel responsible for starting and operating

on-site backup generation equipment and portable

generators are dispatched. Crews put equipment into

“ready standby” mode to prepare for startup.

Delay municipal

staff shift changes.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Public works

Shift changes of selected municipal personnel are delayed

to ensure that adequate resources are available if the

situation deteriorates.

Conduct an

operational test of

municipal backup

communications

equipment.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Communication

center

Backup communications equipment is tested to verify its

operational readiness.

Advise shelters to

prepare to accept

people.

Human services Staffs for heating shelters (in winter) and cooling shelters

(in summer) are advised to prepare to accept people who

might be affected by outages.

If conditions

improve, declare an

end to the

Electricity Warning.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions for an

Electricity Warning have passed, the appropriate municipal

official declares an end to the warning. Municipal

departments are advised to return to normal operating

status. The public is advised.

a

 It is assumed that the actions for an Electricity Warning will be preceded by the actions for an Electricity

Alert. In some cases, it will be necessary to proceed directly to the Electricity Warning stage.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

39

Table 5.6 Response Protocol for Electricity Emergencya

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Declare an

Electricity

Emergency.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions for an

Electricity Emergency have occurred (see Table 5.1),

the appropriate municipal official declares an Electricity

Emergency in the municipality.

Inform municipal

departments.

Municipal response

manager

Appropriate municipal departments (e.g., police, fire,

emergency medical, public works) are informed of the

Electricity Emergency.

Maintain contact

with the ComEd

representative.

Municipal electric

representative

The communications channel established with

ComEd’s designated representative is maintained.

Regular communications continue so that the progress

of the situation can be tracked.

Advise residents

and businesses in

the municipality to

minimize electricity

consumption.

Municipal public

affairs office

By using the communication media available to the

municipality (e.g., municipal cable channel), residents

and businesses are advised of the Electricity

Emergency. The public is advised to reduce electricity

consumption to absolute minimum levels. (Note: The

public is also notified directly by ComEd by means of

broadcast media.)

Minimize municipal

electricity

consumption.

All municipal

departments

Electricity consumption at municipal facilities is reduced

to minimal levels, including turning off all electricityconsuming equipment except that required for

emergency communications and operations.

Start backup

generation

equipment.

Public works In coordination with ComEd, backup generation

equipment at selected facilities is started, and the

facility is switched over to reduce load on the ComEd

system. (Some facilities might not begin using backup

generation unless an actual outage is experienced.)

Recall municipal

staff.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Public works

Extra municipal personnel are recalled to duty to

provide adequate resources to handle the situation.

Conduct an

operational test of

municipal backup

communications

equipment.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Communications

center

Backup communications equipment is tested to verify

its operational readiness.

Open shelters. Human services Staffs open heating shelters (in winter) and cooling

shelters (in summer) and begin to accept people who

might be affected by outages.

If conditions

improve, declare an

end to the

Electricity

Emergency.

Appropriate municipal

official

Upon receipt of information that the conditions for an

Electricity Emergency have passed, the appropriate

municipal official declares an end to the emergency.

Municipal departments are advised to return to normal

operating status. The public is advised.

a

 It is assumed that the actions for an Electricity Emergency will be preceded by the actions for an

Electricity Alert and/or an Electricity Warning. In some cases, it will be necessary to proceed directly

to the Electricity Emergency stage.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

40

5.4 RESPONSE PROTOCOLS DURING A DISRUPTION

The previous section dealt with a municipality’s response in anticipation of

impending problems with the electric power system. Those response protocols

are designed to be implemented even in the absence of any actual power outages.

This section addresses response protocols for actual interruptions, which might

occur without warning at any time of the year. They might also be predictable as

the system becomes stressed and the Alert, Warning, and Emergency phases are

implemented. Whatever the cause of the outage, the protocols described in this

section follow the “staged response” concept described earlier and in Table 5.2.

Response Protocol for Limited Disruptions

Limited disruptions affect only a few customers and extend for short periods of

time (less than approximately 2 hours). The primary focus here is to respond to

the needs of power-outage-sensitive individuals and/or critical facilities that

might be affected on an “as-called” basis. In general, municipal personnel on

duty can handle a limited disruption. Table 5.7 presents the response protocol.

Response Protocol for Extended Disruptions

Extended disruptions affect a larger area, multiple customers, and might last for a

relatively long time (between 2 and 6 hours). The focus of the response is to

identify all critical facilities and power-outage-sensitive individuals that might be

affected and to dispatch municipal personnel to provide assistance. This action is

taken on a proactive basis without necessarily receiving calls for assistance.

Some prioritization of response might be required to allocate available municipal

personnel. Table 5.8 presents the response protocol.

Response Protocol for Wide Area Disruptions

In a wide area disruption, large areas of the municipality, or perhaps the entire

municipality, are without electric power. The response protocol is essentially the

same as for an extended disruption, except that a complete prioritization of

responses is necessary because municipal resources will, in general, not be

adequate to meet all the needs for assistance. In addition, it might be necessary to

ask surrounding municipalities for assistance under mutual aid pacts. Table 5.9

presents the response protocol.

Response Protocol for Regionwide Disruptions

A regionwide disruption that affects large portions, or all, of a metropolitan area

has not occurred in the Chicago area but has occurred elsewhere in the country.

The response protocol includes invoking general disaster plans and mobilizing

county, state, and federal resources. Table 5.10 presents the response protocol.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

41

Table 5.7 Response Protocol for Limited Disruptions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Receive notification

of a disruption.

Municipal electric

representative

Notice is received from ComEd, an affected

facility, or the public.

Determine the

possible impact on

critical facilities

and/or poweroutage-sensitive

individuals.

Municipal electric

representative

The list of critical facilities and power-outagesensitive individuals is consulted. Police, fire,

and emergency medical services personnel

are advised to prepare to respond if a call for

assistance is received.

Dispatch personnel

to deal with:

Traffic issues Police If the disruption involves a traffic situation

(e.g., traffic lights out, railroad crossing gates

inoperative), police are dispatched.

Downed power

lines

Police

Fire

If the disruption involves a downed power line,

police and fire personnel are dispatched to

secure the area until ComEd cuts power to the

affected line.

Fire and security

alarms

Fire

Police

If the disruption triggers fire and security

alarms, fire and police personnel are

dispatched to investigate.

Medical needs Emergency medical

services

If a call for medical assistance is received from

a power-outage-sensitive individual,

emergency medical services personnel are

dispatched.

Affected municipal

facilities

Public works If the disruption involves a municipality-owned

facility, personnel are dispatched to start

backup generation equipment.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

42

Table 5.8 Response Protocol for Extended Disruptions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Receive notification

of a disruption.

Municipal electric

representative

Notice is received from ComEd, an affected facility, or

the public. Notice might also be available via the

ComEd E-Outage Internet site.

Establish contact

with the ComEd

representative.

Municipal electric

representative

A communication channel is established with the

designated ComEd representative. Regular

communication is maintained to track the progress of

the situation.

Determine the

possible impact on

critical facilities

and/or poweroutage-sensitive

individuals.

Municipal electric

representative

The list of critical facilities and power-outage-sensitive

individuals is consulted, and those affected are

identified. Response priority is established. Phone

calls to affected facilities and individuals are initiated to

determine whether assistance is needed.

Advise emergency

responders.

Municipal response

manager

Police, fire, and emergency medical services

personnel are advised of the extent of the disruption.

Requests for assistance, based on information

obtained during telephone calls with the affected

facilities and individuals, are conveyed to the

appropriate emergency responder.

Dispatch personnel

to deal with:

Traffic issues Police If the disruption involves a traffic situation (e.g., traffic

lights out, railroad crossing gates inoperative), police

are dispatched.

Security issues Police If the disruption raises the possibility of increased

criminal activity, police are dispatched to potential

problem areas.

Downed power

lines

Police

Fire

If the disruption involves a downed power line, police

and fire personnel are dispatched to secure the area

until ComEd cuts power to the affected line.

Fire and security

alarms

Fire

Police

If the disruption triggers fire and security alarms, fire

and police personnel are dispatched to investigate.

Medical needs Emergency medical

services

If a call for medical assistance is received from a

power-outage-sensitive individual, emergency medical

services personnel are dispatched.

Critical facility

needs

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

services

If the disruption creates needs at critical facilities,

appropriate municipal personnel are dispatched.

Affected municipal

facilities

Public works If the disruption involves a municipality-owned facility,

personnel are dispatched to start backup generation

equipment.

Coordinate with

ComEd to provide

support for repair

crews.

Municipal electricity

representative

The need for municipal support to ComEd crews is

determined, and appropriate arrangements are made,

including traffic routing priority for repair crews, traffic

control for the movement of heavy repair equipment,

and security for repair crews.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

43

Continued

Table 5.9 Response Protocol for Wide Area Disruptions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Receive notification

of a disruption.

Municipal electric

representative

Notice is received from ComEd, an affected facility, or

the public. Notice might also be available via the ComEd

E-Outage Internet site.

Establish contact

with the ComEd

representative.

Municipal electric

representative

A communication channel is established with the

designated ComEd representative. Regular

communication is maintained to track the progress of the

situation.

Determine the

possible impact on

critical facilities

and/or poweroutage-sensitive

individuals.

Municipal electric

representative

The list of critical facilities and power-outage-sensitive

individuals is consulted, and those affected are

identified. Response priority is established. Phone calls

to affected facilities and individuals are initiated to

determine whether assistance is needed.

Advise emergency

responders.

Municipal response

manager

Police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel

are advised of the extent of the disruption. Requests for

assistance, based on information obtained during

telephone calls to the affected facilities and individuals,

are conveyed to the appropriate emergency responder.

Dispatch personnel

to deal with:

Traffic issues Police If the disruption involves a traffic situation (e.g., traffic

lights out, railroad crossing gates inoperative), police are

dispatched.

Security issues Police If the disruption raises the possibility of increased

criminal activity, police are dispatched to potential

problem areas.

Downed power

lines

Police

Fire

If the disruption involves a downed power line, police

and fire personnel are dispatched to secure the area

until ComEd cuts power to the affected line.

Fire and security

alarms

Fire

Police

If the disruption triggers fire and security alarms, fire and

police personnel are dispatched to investigate.

Medical needs Emergency medical

services

If a call for medical assistance is received from a poweroutage-sensitive individual, emergency medical services

personnel are dispatched.

Critical facility

needs

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

services

If the disruption creates needs at critical facilities,

appropriate municipal personnel are dispatched.

Affected municipal

facilities

Public works If the disruption involves a municipality-owned facility,

personnel are dispatched to start backup generation

equipment.

Evacuate residents

to shelters as

needed.

Emergency medical

services

Police

For long-duration disruptions, sensitive residents

(e.g., elderly, sick) are evacuated to heating centers

(in winter) or cooling centers (in summer).

Coordinate with

ComEd to provide

support for repair

crews.

Municipal electricity

representative

The need for municipal support to ComEd crews is

determined, and appropriate arrangements are made,

including traffic routing priority for repair crews, traffic

control for the movement of heavy repair equipment,

and security for repair crews.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

44

Table 5.9 (Cont.)

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Recall municipal

staff.

Police

Fire

Emergency medical

Public works

Extra municipal personnel are recalled to duty to provide

adequate resources to handle the situation.

Request assistance

under mutual aid

pacts.

Appropriate municipal

official

If available municipal resources are inadequate for

dealing with the situation, assistance from surrounding

communities is requested. County and state resources

are also asked to provide assistance.

Invoke disaster

plan.

Appropriate municipal

official

If the situation warrants, the municipal disaster plan is

put into operation.

Table 5.10 Response Protocol for Regionwide Disruptions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

All of the actions

listed under Wide

Area Disruptions

are taken. See

Table 5.9 for

descriptions.

- -

Establish

communications

with county and

state emergency

preparedness

agencies.

Appropriate municipal

official

Communication is established with the appropriate

county emergency preparedness agency and with the

Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Coordination

of information and response across the region is

established. Federal assistance is requested through the

state agency.
45

6 RESTORATION PLANNING

ComEd is responsible for carrying out the primary efforts involved in the

restoration of service following an electric power disruption, including repair

and/or replacement of equipment, reconnection of transmission or distribution

cables, or resetting of system controls to normal operational modes. There are,

however, a number of important actions that municipalities can take to facilitate

and expedite the restoration process. These actions are summarized in Table 6.1

Before a disruption is over and while repairs are still being made, ComEd may

need support from municipal personnel (e.g., police, fire, public works) to gain

entry to equipment sites, to secure repair sites from unauthorized access, or to

provide other support services. It is important for municipalities to have an

established procedure for providing this support to ComEd. The communication

protocol for ComEd to request this support and the manner in which municipal

personnel can provide this support should be worked out prior to any emergency

situation. Further, municipal personnel must be informed of the limits to their

ability to provide support in order to avoid dangerous exposure to electrical

equipment with which they may not be familiar. Likewise, municipal personnel

should be discouraged from attempting any repairs on their own on ComEd

equipment because of the potential safety problems involved.

At the end of a disruption event, all of the backup and emergency equipment

should be returned to standby conditions to be ready for any subsequent

situations. It is tempting to delay this process, particularly in the wake of a

disruption event that may have strained municipal personnel. However, the need

to be prepared for any additional emergency conditions that may occur within a

short time must be recognized.

Following a disruption event, it is important for municipal departments to review

the situation and identify any weaknesses in the overall response. The conduct of

this type of debriefing can assist in the preparedness for the next outage.

Disruption warnings that do not materialize into an actual loss of service

(e.g., the Alert, Warning, or Emergency phases do not actually experience any

outages) can create special problems. Municipalities will generally return

personnel and equipment to normal operating mode. A frequent occurrence of

these warning conditions without actual disruptions taking place can lead to a

This section provides guidelines for municipal actions designed to return to

normal operation after the Alert, Warning, or Emergency phase or after an

actual disruption.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

46

temptation to take successive warnings less seriously and become complacent in

the level of preparedness. A measure of discipline is needed to avoid being

unprepared for when the next outage does occur.

Table 6.1 Restoration Actions

Action

Responsible

Municipal Agency Description

Provide

support to

ComEd repair

crews.

Police

Fire

Public works

Appropriate support from municipal personnel

is provided to ComEd crews that must carry

out repair operations on public or private

property. Communication is maintained with

ComEd to allocate resources where needed.

Declare an end

to the event.

Appropriate municipal

official

After receipt of notice from ComEd that the

situation has been restored to normal, the

appropriate municipal official declares an end

to the event (i.e., the Alert, Warning, or

Emergency stage and/or actual disruptions).

In some cases, a period of continuous power

operation (e.g., 30 minutes) is used to signal

the end of an event.

Inform

municipal

departments.

Municipal response

manager

Appropriate municipal departments

(e.g., police, fire, emergency medical, public

works) are informed of the end of the event

and are directed to begin restoration

activities.

Shut down

emergency

generation and

retransfer to

ComEd power.

Municipal electricity

representative

Public works

Municipal emergency generation is shut

down, and load is transferred back to the

ComEd system. Coordination with ComEd on

the timing of the retransfer is crucial to avoid

large, simultaneous load increases that could

trigger new problems.

Remove

portable

generators.

Public works Portable generators that had been moved into

position are disconnected and returned to

their staging areas.

Return backup

equipment to

standby status.

Public works All backup equipment is checked and

returned to a standby condition so that it is

ready for future deployment. Backup fuel

supplies are replenished.

Reset traffic

signals.

Public works Where necessary, traffic signals are reset to

normal operating mode.

Repair

buildings,

grounds, street

damage.

Public works Repairs are made to buildings, grounds, and

streets that might have been damaged during

emergency operations. Repair operations are

coordinated with ComEd.

Attend

debriefing.

Municipal response

manager

A debriefing session is held with municipal

departments and with ComEd to review the

events and to identify weaknesses in the

response actions. Modifications are made in

preparation for the next event.
47

7 PREPAREDNESS EXERCISES

7.1 EXERCISE FOUNDATIONS

A preparedness exercise is a controlled learning activity for the staff of various

municipal departments that tests plans for responding to an electric power

disruption. Such an exercise is guided by a realistic scenario of disruption events,

which allows the staff to practice response actions, evaluate the degree of

integration and coordination of the response, and uncover weaknesses and gaps

in the response plan. An exercise should include an evaluation and grading by

observers, followed by a post-exercise critique. An exercise should culminate

with the participants preparing a documented record of lessons learned from the

experience.

To be of maximum value, an exercise should be a condensed, “low-pressure”

experience that maximizes participation by many types of response

organizations. It should provide a positive learning experience that forms the

basis for additional planning and training. During an exercise, the participants

should learn as much as possible about their strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and

duplications associated with responsibilities, training needs, and resources. The

greatest benefit of preparedness exercises is that they allow those responsible for

planning emergency responses and obtaining emergency response resources to

test the implementation and workability of plans at minimal cost, without risk to

emergency workers, and without the pressure of an actual emergency.

7.2 TYPES OF EXERCISES

Several types of exercises could be implemented. When planning an exercise

program, municipalities should decide which types of exercises make the best use

of their resources.3

 

3

 The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (see Appendix D) offers training courses on emergency exercises

and other emergency planning activities.

Preparedness exercises are critical for the effective implementation of an

electric power disruption plan. This section describes the steps needed to

develop and conduct effective exercises.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

48

Training Drills

Training drills are exercises conducted by each individual municipal department

(e.g., fire, police, public works) to determine procedures and steps for responding

to an electric power disruption. Such instructional drills allow the participants to

ask questions, obtain clarification about their responsibilities and procedures, and

get immediate feedback from trainers while they are performing their emergency

response roles. Training drills for electric power outages should be coordinated

with other departmental preparedness exercises.

Tabletop Exercises

Tabletop exercises bring together representatives from all municipal departments

that need to respond to a power outage. As “tabletop” indicates, these exercises

are conducted around a conference table rather than in the field. Under the

guidance of a facilitator(s), tabletop exercises use disruption scenarios that enable

participants to represent their organizations’ roles and responsibilities.

Participants go through each scenario of power outage events and describe how

their department would respond and what measures would be implemented.

Tabletop exercises are one of the most frequently used forms of preparedness

exercises because they help to identify major emergency response issues (e.g.,

effective communications during an event) while minimizing cost and disruption

to normal departmental activities.

Functional Exercises

Functional exercises allow the testing of specific emergency response functions

in the field without concern for their integration or interface with other response

functions. For example, police, fire, or public works functions could be exercised

without involving emergency management or social service departments.

Full-scale Exercises

Full-scale exercises are the most comprehensive type of preparedness exercise.

These efforts involve the activation of key individuals who would be responsible

for the full range of emergency functions and are augmented with field

demonstrations of the essential capabilities and knowledge required by

emergency workers. Full-scale exercises involve all municipal emergency

response departments in an actual field test of procedures. In this type of

exercise, municipal personnel and equipment are deployed to exercise sites, and

response protocols are simulated. These exercises have been used extensively in

planning for such events as hazardous material accidents and airplane crashes,

but they have been used infrequently in planning for electric power outages.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

49

7.3 DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING AN EXERCISE

The activities involved in designing and implementing an effective power outage

preparedness exercise are discussed in the following sections.

Determine the Scope and Objectives of the Exercise

Planning must begin with a clear statement of the scope of the exercise and its

objectives. For example, an exercise can be designed to test the full functionality

of a power outage response plan under the most severe conditions or to test only

a portion of the plan. It is important to decide how much of the emergency plan

can be reasonably tested, given the funding and time available for planning. The

organizations that need to participate are identified, and the number of

representatives from each organization is determined. These parameters are used

as guidelines for preparing specific objectives that the participants need to

demonstrate during the exercise.

Develop Scenarios

A power outage exercise should test municipal responses under various outage

scenarios. Such scenarios can include responding to impending disruptions (see

Table 5.1) and/or actual disruptions (see Table 5.2). A timeline and a series of

events that describe a disruption scenario are prepared. The objectives and the

scenario outline are used as a guide for preparing a narrative description of the

scenario and for developing a Master Scenario Events List that shows the

sequence of events and a timeline. The scenario also indicates the times that

participants will be given information in the form of messages during the

exercise. This type of exercise generally includes a number of different events

designed to test participants’ responses under complicated circumstances that

reflect realistic conditions. It is important to refrain from revealing the details of

the scenarios to the participating departments before the exercise so that their

response actions will be more realistic.

Develop a Plan for Administering the Exercise

In addition to including personnel from the necessary municipal departments, a

well-planned exercise also consists of controllers and observers/evaluators who

plan the exercise, know the scenario, and observe the response. These

individuals, however, do not actually participate in the exercise. The controllers’

purpose is to facilitate the exercise; prepare “read-ahead” materials that describe

the purpose, scope, and objectives of the exercise; and distribute this information

to participants before the exercise. The controllers run the actual exercise and

initiate the events to which the municipal department participants must respond.

The observers/evaluators take notes on the response actions and document the

participants’ performance.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

50

Conduct the Exercise

On the day of the exercise, participants, including controllers and

observers/evaluators, attend a briefing to review how the exercise will be run.

Any pre-exercise reference material is distributed, and the rules of conduct for

the exercise are reviewed. The pre-exercise briefing assists all participants in

understanding their roles and responsibilities. After the initial conditions have

been described, the exercise begins with the first event that requires the

participants to respond. As the exercise evolves, subsequent escalating events are

introduced in accordance with the pre-planned timeline to sustain a pace that

actively engages the participants. At the conclusion of the scenario, the exercise

facilitator(s) lead a critique, which elicits the reactions of and lessons learned by

the participants.

In the exercise, all participants play roles. It is important to maintain a measure of

“role-playing discipline”; that is, all participants should proceed as if the scenario

events were actually happening. Encouraging participants to speak and act as

though they were carrying out their responses under actual conditions helps to

maintain focus and improves the value of the exercise.

Document Lessons Learned

An essential part of any exercise is a formal evaluation and documentation of

lessons learned. The evaluation should be fair, objective, and comprehensive in

identifying strengths and weaknesses with regard to the entire municipal response

to the simulated power outage scenarios. An effective exercise provides for the

retention of lessons learned from the experience. It is important to capture the

participants’ comments, reactions, and lessons learned — both during the

exercise and at the post-exercise critique.

The exercise facilitator develops a brief written report and distributes it to the

participants within two weeks after the exercise. This report should consist of a

list of the participants and the organizations that they represented. It also should

summarize the exercise and specify future actions (e.g., planning, training,

resource development) needed to rectify or improve gaps in emergency response

capabilities. If the report might be distributed to individuals or organizations that

did not participate in the exercise, a draft report should be given to the

participants for their review and comments. The resulting “after action” report is

important for building consensus about the actions and priorities recommended

from the results of the exercise, and it provides the necessary documentation

needed to obtain any additional resources for the next steps.
51

8 LONGER-TERM PREPAREDNESS

8.1 BUILDING CODES

Building codes are used to ensure that construction in a community meets the

minimum standards required for public health and safety and for quality

workmanship. Building codes can also be used to increase a community’s ability

to deal with disruptions to the electric power infrastructure by requiring facilities

to be adequately prepared for power outages.

Communities that adopt building codes as part of their municipal code — thus

making compliance mandatory — frequently use several model codes developed

by national organizations. While model codes provide basic guidance,

municipalities often amend and modify them to meet specific local requirements.

A number of model codes are used frequently and have material that is relevant

for dealing with power outages. These are listed in Table 8.1.

Table 8.1 also summarizes the features of the model codes that are most relevant

for increasing a facility’s ability to deal with power outages. The codes are

carefully constructed and contain multiple cross-references, applicabilities, and

exceptions. The table serves as a broad outline of the information contained in

the codes. Municipalities should consult the detailed documentation of the codes

to obtain a complete and accurate description of the requirements.

The Chicago Municipal Code can be used as an example of how model codes are

adapted to meet local conditions. Table 8.2 summarizes some of the features of

the Chicago code that differ from those used in the national model codes.

Current building codes require only selected facilities to have backup power

systems, primarily used for emergency lighting. Health care facilities, high-rise

buildings, and other facilities can require more extensive backup capability in

addition to emergency lighting. Municipalities should determine whether they

need a more extensive set of requirements to cover more facilities and/or a

requirement to have backup systems capable of handling special needs.

Municipal governments can take steps that will improve their ability to cope

with electric power disruptions in the longer term. These steps include the

use of building codes, zoning ordinances, and growth and development

projections.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

52

Table 8.1 Summary of Power-outage-relevant Portions of Model Building Codes

Life Safety Codea

 Provides definitions and requirements for 15 classes of facilities and 10 special structures.

 For most facility classes and special structures, mandates the use of emergency lighting for means of egress. In

the event of a power outage, lighting must have battery backup to last at least 11⁄2 hours.

 Requires the use of standby power (e.g., backup generators) for high-rise (i.e., more than 75 ft high) buildings.

 References NFPA 99, Standard for Health Care Facilities, as providing requirements for health care facilities.

National Building Codeb

 Provides definitions and requirements for structures falling into 10 use groups and 21 special-use and

occupancy facilities.

 Defines an “emergency electrical system” as a system designed to pick up essential loads within 10 seconds of

a power outage. Defines a “standby power system” as a system designed to pick up selected loads (other than

those classified as emergency use) within 60 seconds of a power outage.

 Requires the use of standby power systems in high-rise buildings. A 2-hour fuel supply must be on site.

 Requires the ability to connect emergency communications equipment, emergency lighting, fire pumps, and at

least one elevator to the standby system.

National Electrical Codec

 Provides requirements for electrical equipment, including additional requirements for 25 special occupancy

facilities.

 Prescribes requirements for emergency systems designed to provide backup power for facilities and equipment

essential for safety reasons. Battery systems must have 11⁄2 hour capability. Generator systems must have an

on-site fuel supply for 2 hours of operation, unless the system is natural-gas-fueled and the probability of

simultaneous failure of the electric and natural gas supplies is considered to be low.

 Prescribes requirements for “legally required standby” systems, which are designed to provide backup power

for equipment whose interruption could create hazards or hamper fire-fighting efforts. Battery and generator

requirements are similar to those for emergency systems.

 Prescribes requirements for “optional standby” systems, which are designed to provide backup power for

non-safety-related equipment.

 Establishes requirements for health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, limited care, supervisory

care, clinics, medical and dental offices, and ambulatory care. Describes requirements for alternate sources of

power, including on-site generators, battery systems, and multiple feeders from the utility supply.

National Fire Prevention Coded

 Provides requirements for specific facilities, operations, and materials handling.

 For facilities requiring emergency generators, requires a transfer time of 10 seconds or less and requires an onsite fuel supply for a minimum of 2 hours.

Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systemse

 Provides installation criteria and maintenance practices for emergency power systems.

 Classifies emergency power supply systems (EPSS) by the following:

– type, which specifies the time needed to have the EPSS pick up the load, and which ranges from

essentially instantaneous (uninterruptible power supplies) through 10–120 seconds, to manual with no time

limit;

– class, which specifies how long the EPSS can operate without refueling, and which ranges from 5 minutes

to 48 hours; and

– level, where Level 1 systems meet the most stringent requirements and are designed prevent loss of life or

serious injury, and Level 2 systems are designed to provide more flexibility in less critical situations.

 Permits EPSS fuel sources to be liquid petroleum products (e.g., diesel fuel), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or

natural gas.

 Sets requirements on transfer switches that move the load between the utility supply and the EPSS.

 Sets safety and environmental requirements for EPSS.

Continued
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

53

Table 8.1 (Cont.)

Standard for Stored Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Power Systemsf

 Provides performance and safety requirements for stored electrical energy (e.g., battery) systems used for

emergency purposes.

 Classifies stored emergency power supply systems (SEPSS) by type, class, and level (similar to the EPSS).

 Sets requirements for transfer switches that move the load between the utility supply and the SEPSS.

 Sets safety and environmental requirements for the SEPSS.

Recommended Practice for Emergency and Standby Power Systems for Industrial and Commercial

Applicationsg

 Provides requirements for backup power installed in industrial and commercial facilities.

 Identifies emergency power needs in 13 categories of commercial and industrial facilities, including lighting,

start-up power, transportation, mechanical utility systems, heating, refrigeration, production, space conditioning,

fire protection, data processing, life support and life safety systems, communications systems, and signal

circuits.

 Provides standards for generators and utility emergency power systems.

 Provides standards for stored energy systems, including batteries, mechanical energy storage, and motor

generators.

Standard for Health Care Facilitiesh

 Provides requirements for health care facilities.

Safety Code for Elevators and Escalatorsi

 Provides requirements for design, construction, operation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of elevators,

including dealing with power failures.

a

 Life Safety Code, NFPA-101, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (2000).

b National Building Code, Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Country Club Hills, IL

(1999).

c National Electrical Code, NFPA No. 70-1999, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1998).

d National Fire Prevention Code, Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Country Club

Hills, IL (1999).

e Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, NFPA 110, National Fire Protection Association,

Quincy, MA (1999).

f

 Standard for Stored Electrical Energy Emergency and Standby Power Systems, NFPA 111, National Fire

Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1996).

g

 Recommended Practice for Emergency and Standby Power Systems for Industrial and Commercial

Applications, ANSI/IEEE 446, American National Standards Institute, Washington, DC (1995).

h

 Standard for Health Care Facilities, NFPA 99, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1999).

i

 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, ASME/ANSI A17.1, American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, New York, NY (2000).
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

54

Table 8.2 Summary of Selected Chicago Municipal Code Sections with

Relevance to Power Outages

Chapter 14-4: Emergency Systems

This chapter covers requirements for emergency and exit lighting systems.

 System I emergency systems are defined as consisting of three sources of electric power: the

normal supply, an auxiliary source, and a final reserve source. The auxiliary source can be an

alternative supply from the electric utility (e.g., connection from a second service line, connection to

an alternative feeder) or an on-site generator. The final reserve source can be from an on-site

generator or a battery system. System I is required in the following structures:

− homes for the aged (with two or more floors or more than 20 persons)

− hospitals

− school halls (with fixed seats)

− theaters

 System II emergency systems are defined as consisting of two sources of electric power: the normal

source and an auxiliary source. In residential buildings more than 80 feet above grade, the auxiliary

source must be an on-site generator or a battery system. System II is required in the following

structures:

− hotels

− infirmaries

− schools (with more than 100 students)

− school halls (without fixed seats)

 System III emergency systems are defined as consisting of two sources of electric power: the normal

source and an auxiliary source. The auxiliary source must be from an approved source that supplies

only the exit and emergency lights. System III is required in the following structures:

− jails

− libraries

− motels

− police stations (with two or more floors or more than 20 persons)

− residential buildings (more than 80 feet above grade)

− rooming houses (with two or more floors or more than 20 persons)

− schools (with fewer 100 students)

 Battery units must operate for a minimum of 2 hours.

 Generators must be able to pick up the load within 10 seconds. An on-site fuel supply must be

available for 4 hours of operation. The generator is allowed to pick up selected emergency loads

other than lighting.

Chapter 13-76: High-rise Buildings

This chapter covers all new buildings more than 80 ft above grade.

 It requires a System II emergency system. In addition to supplying emergency lights, the system must

supply a fire department emergency access elevator to all floors, a communication system, and fire

command and alarm systems.

 All buildings more than 400 ft above grade must have a diesel-driven emergency generator for fire

pumps.

All existing and new residential buildings more than 80 feet above grade must have either an on-site

generator or an approved battery system for emergency lights. The fuel source for the generator in

buildings more than 80 but under 400 ft above grade can be natural gas or diesel. In buildings more than

400 ft above grade, the fuel source must be diesel.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

55

In addition to providing requirements that directly affect the ability to deal with

electric power disruptions, recent building codes also address issues concerning

energy efficiency and the use of alternative energy supplies, such as solar power.

Although such issues are beyond the scope of these guidelines, this aspect of

building codes can have a significant indirect effect on the ability of a facility to

cope with power outages. For example, a building designed to be very efficient

puts less stress on the local electric power infrastructure and requires less backup

power equipment. More information on these issues can be obtained from the

U.S. Department of Energy.4

8.2 ZONING ORDINANCES

Zoning ordinances stipulate the type of land use that is acceptable in various

locations in a community. Zoning can significantly affect the electric power

requirements of an area. For example, an area zoned “residential” will have a

very different electricity load profile than an area zoned “commercial” or

“industrial.”

Zoning is an important part of local community development, and many issues

are considered in the preparation of zoning plans and ordinances. The

configuration of the electric power infrastructure is not usually one of the key

issues. Zoning ordinances commonly assume that an electric company is

responsible for meeting virtually all demands, independent of zoning decisions.

This practice is evident in the wording of the model franchise agreement

presented in Appendix B. Section 5.2 of that agreement outlines the duty of the

power company to provide electricity “...to the Village [City] ... and to the

inhabitants thereof, and to any person or persons or corporation doing business in

the Village [City].” Nevertheless, the consideration of electric power supply

issues in zoning decisions can affect the ability of a community to deal with

power disruptions.

There are two ways in which zoning can affect the electric power infrastructure.

First, zoning plays a role in determining the location of a site for electric power

facilities, including power plants, transmission lines, and substations. In the

Chicago Metropolitan Area, as well as in other parts of the country, the current

trend — constructing many small- and medium-scale “peaker” power plants —

has at times ignited zoning controversies. Many communities are now developing

policies and zoning ordinances that will affect the location of these facilities.

It is important for a community to understand that the location (or restrictions on

the location through zoning) of electric power facilities within its boundaries

might (or might not) directly affect the reliability of the power supply to that

community. A community that is home to a peaker plant, for example, does not

necessarily enjoy more reliable service. Likewise, not having a power plant does

not imply decreased reliability. Electric power plants are built to provide power

 

4

 The general Internet site for the Department of Energy is www.doe.gov.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

56

to the entire electric grid, not just to the area in which they are located. However,

a distribution substation, which connects customers to the grid, will directly

affect the reliability of electrical service in the area in which it is located.

Second, zoning affects the electric power infrastructure because it influences the

type and rate of development. The last 25 years have witnessed a major trend

toward using zoning — and the closely related ability to control the subdivision

of land — to regulate growth. In some cases, towns have attempted (with varying

degrees of success) to limit new development by, for example, declaring a

moratorium on building permits or setting a maximum number of dwelling units

that will be allowed (in essence a population cap). The courts, however, have

declared these practices confiscatory and have overturned measures that prevent

reasonable use of suitable land or that drastically reduce land values.

The most common means for ensuring that a community does not outgrow its

infrastructure is to link new development to infrastructure improvements.

Developers of new subdivisions, shopping centers, or industrial parks typically

must provide for infrastructures such as roads, storm drainage, and water and

sewer facilities. They might also have to contribute — either through donating

land or paying fees — to the construction of public facilities such as parks,

schools, water treatment facilities, and police and fire stations. Such provisions

are referred to as “concurrency requirements” or “adequate public facilities.”

The primary mechanisms used to enforce such requirements are “required

dedications” and “impact fees.” The former term refers to land that must be set

aside from the parcel being developed for roads, parks, schools, environmental

buffer zones, or other purposes. Ownership of this property is generally conveyed

to the town, school district, or other governmental entity. The latter term refers to

monetary payments. For example a town might require a developer to make a

monetary contribution toward the construction of a new school or water tower.

It is not common practice to use these measures to directly support construction

or enhancement of the electrical infrastructure. The construction and

improvement of electric power systems is usually the responsibility of the

electric utility, which is mandated to provide electrical service to all customers.

One way that has been used to ensure that adequate infrastructure (which might

include electric power) accompanies new development is to link the timing of the

two. In some parts of the country, the courts have upheld a town’s authority to

require the “phasing-in” of new residential areas, thus ensuring that development

does not precede the construction of supporting infrastructure. This practice has

been upheld even when it has substantially delayed the approval of a

development.

A comprehensive discussion of zoning and its relationship to emergency

preparedness can be found at the Department of Energy’s special Internet site.5

 

5

 The Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development Internet site is www.sustainable.doe.gov.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

57

8.3 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTIONS

All electric power companies develop projections of long-term demand as a

starting point for planning the expansion of electric power generation,

transmission, and distribution facilities. Projections are made for a range of

planning horizons (from 1 to 20 years) and for a range of geographical

resolutions (for the entire system to individual distribution substations and feeder

lines). In general, the shorter the planning horizon and the larger the geographic

resolution used, the more likely the demand forecast will be reasonably

representative of the actual situation.

In rapidly growing or changing communities, which are common in the Chicago

Metropolitan Area, estimating long-term growth in electricity demand is a

serious issue. Because it can take several years to design and construct new

power system facilities, it is vital to obtain accurate (to the extent possible)

estimates of future power demand. If the demand projection is too low, the

system capacity may not be adequate to meet the area’s needs in a timely fashion.

If the demand projection is too high, resources are used to build facilities that are

not needed, keeping funds from more important projects.

Municipalities can play an important role in improving the accuracy and

usefulness of electricity demand forecasts in several ways. The information that

is available to municipalities that would be valuable in improving the demand

forecasts is discussed in the following sections.

Building Permits

Building permits constitute one of the most definitive predictors of the need for

additional electrical service in an area. Although primarily useful for short-term

estimates of growth in demand, the permits represent a reasonably firm picture of

what projects are likely to be built. Municipalities can help develop better

electricity demand forecasts by using the permit process to ask builders about

their anticipated need for electric service. The following information, some of

which is already collected as part of the permit application, is especially helpful

in projecting electricity demand:

 Location – street address, block

 Planned use – residential, commercial, industrial, other

 Size – floor area, number of levels

 Expected electricity requirements:

– expected peak demand in kilowatts

– amps of service required

– expected daily variation in electricity use

– expected seasonal variation in electricity use
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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– any unusual needs for electric service (e.g., special equipment)

 Plans for backup power supply

– number of emergency/standby generators to be installed

– size

– type of fuel

– portion of the load to be connected to the backup power supply

 Number of uninterruptible power supply units to be installed

– size

– portion of the load to be connected

Building permit information on electric service requirements should be conveyed

to ComEd on a regular and timely basis. Municipalities might need to process the

building permit data to preserve confidentiality and protect proprietary business

information, but it is still important to advise ComEd of expected building

activity as soon as possible. Currently, ComEd often is not notified of new

electric service requirements until just before a project is completed and service

connections need to be installed. This practice does not provide sufficient leadtime to make any necessary adjustments to the power system configuration.

Modification and Rehab Projects

Modification of a building’s use can significantly affect electrical service

requirements, which may or may not be readily identified on building permits.

Some examples of this type project include the following:

 Conversion of conventional commercial or industrial facilities to computerbased company operations with extensive computer equipment and airconditioning requirements, which will require substantially more electric

power;

 Conversion of a commercial building to residential condominiums, which

will have a different electrical load profile; and

 Rehabilitation of residential buildings to increase their electrical service.

Municipalities can use zoning change requests, permit applications, economic

development plans, or other informal means to identify modification or rehab

projects. In any case, it is important to notify ComEd of any changes in electric

power requirements as soon as possible.

Zoning Changes

Zoning changes can also significantly affect power requirements. For example, it

is commonplace in the Chicago Metropolitan Area to change from agricultural to

residential or commercial land use. This type of change has major implications

for both the quantity of electricity needed and the daily variation in load.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Although zoning changes alone do not guarantee that new facilities will be built

on the rezoned parcels, they do indicate the potential for a substantial change in

power consumption patterns.

Typically, information on zoning changes is not conveyed to ComEd on a regular

basis because it is unknown whether near-term firm project plans will affect

electric power requirements. Nevertheless, a change in zoning can be a useful

“early warning indicator” that the electrical service in a portion of a municipality

needs to be reevaluated.

Development Plans

Electric power companies use many techniques to forecast long-term growth and

development, including trend analysis, population projections, economic growth

forecasts, and others. Municipalities could have additional information and

insight that could improve the accuracy of these forecasts. In many communities,

an economic development group looks at the long-term growth of the

municipality and recommends actions to promote a desired type of development.

Although projections and forecasts made on the basis of development plans are

speculative and not always an accurate predictor of long-term growth, they can

indicate trends that would increase the demand for electricity.

Examples of the types of development planning information that should be

conveyed to ComEd include:

 Economic development plans and projections for the municipality,

 Identification of areas expected to have significant growth,

 Identification of areas expected to experience significant changes in use,

 Large development projects (e.g., shopping centers, industrial facilities,

residential developments) under consideration, and

 Creation of special economic development and/or redevelopment zones.

Some of this information could be sensitive, so special arrangements should be

made to avoid inappropriate disclosure. Nevertheless, the availability of this type

of information can help to ensure that future electric power supplies will be

sufficient to meet the demand.
60

9 DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRIC POWER

DISRUPTION PLAN

Involvement of Municipal Departments

The development and implementation of a plan necessarily involve many

municipal departments, including town management, police, fire, emergency

medical services, public works, public affairs, human services, and others. To

ensure a well-coordinated, effective effort, it is essential that all relevant agencies

participate in the development of an emergency plan. Although disruption of

electrical service poses some unique situations that require special consideration,

power outage planning should be viewed as part of a community’s general

emergency planning efforts.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Some of the solutions considered in planning for a municipal electric power

disruption cannot be implemented without obtaining special legal and regulatory

authority. Municipalities should engage legal counsel to ensure that all necessary

authorizations are in place. Further, some actions could subject a municipality to

liabilities. Proper legal measures should be in place to address these liabilities.

Coordination with ComEd

The preparation of a municipal electric power disruption plan should be

coordinated with ComEd. Many aspects of the plan require close cooperation

between the municipality and the company. These issues should be worked out

and agreed upon in advance — before a disruption occurs — to ensure an

effective response effort.

The guidelines presented in the previous sections provided general

principles that municipalities can use in preparing to deal with electric power

infrastructure problems. The best way to ensure that these guidelines will be

implemented is to develop an electric power disruption plan that adapts

these guidelines to local conditions. Some considerations that are important

in the development of a plan are investigated here.
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61

Coordination with Other Municipal, County,

and State Agencies

Several county emergency management agencies have issued guidance to

municipalities for the preparation of emergency plans. This material follows state

(i.e., Illinois Emergency Management Agency) and federal (Federal Emergency

Management Agency) emergency planning guidelines. Any emergency plan that

is prepared by a municipality to deal with power outages should be consistent

with these guidelines.
62

10 MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY

Security Awareness and Procedures

Municipal employees who deal with electric power infrastructure issues need to

develop an awareness of security concerns. The most important aspect of security

is raising the awareness of individuals. Municipal employees who are sensitized

to the need to protect information are the best defense against inappropriate

disclosure. To assist these employees in maintaining appropriate levels of

security, standard operating procedures need to be developed and implemented,

and employees need to be trained in the application of these procedures.

Physical Security

Municipalities need to provide physical security for the equipment used in

electric power disruption events. Backup generators, portable generation

equipment, and other emergency response equipment must be secured from

access by vandals or criminals. Keeping equipment safe from intentional damage

requires the institution of appropriate physical security measures (e.g., locked

enclosures, alarm systems).

Information and Cyber Security

The information on electric power infrastructure assurance, including critical

facilities, power-outage-sensitive individuals, potential vulnerabilities, and

protective measures, is sensitive — from a privacy perspective as well as a

security perspective. It is essential to protect this information from release to

unauthorized individuals.

The security of computer systems that contain sensitive information is also

important, especially in light of the increasing number of incidents involving

hackers and viruses. Such incidents can damage data or result in unauthorized

access. Information on critical facilities, power-outage-sensitive individuals, and

vulnerabilities is especially sensitive and must be protected by using appropriate

information technology security measures (e.g., passwords, firewalls).

The security items that need to be addressed by municipalities are

discussed in this section.
63

APPENDIXES
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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65

APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY

Alternating Current (AC)

An electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals. See Direct Current.

Ampere, amp (A)

A unit of measure for the electrical flow in a conductor. An amp is the

fundamental unit of electric current. See Watt for relationship between current

and power.

Base Load Units

Electrical generators designed to operate at almost constant power output levels

throughout the day and to serve the minimum, or “base load,” of the electric

system. See Peaking Units.

Bulk Power System

The high-voltage transmission lines that deliver large quantities of electric power

from power plants and interconnected utilities.

Bus

A common connection point in an electric system. A physical bus consists of a

bar or tube of copper or aluminum that connects multiple pieces of equipment or

circuits.

Cable

Insulated conductors used in underground systems. A conductor is a wire or

combination of wires that carry electric current.

ComEd uses several types and sizes of cable in its underground transmission and

distribution system. The kind of cable used in a certain area depends on several

factors, including location, purpose, and the amount of load it can carry. Load

refers to the amount of electricity flowing on the system.

Cables are normally classified according to the following characteristics:

(1) voltage rating; (2) number, size, and type of conductor; (3) type of insulation;

and (4) type of sheath and/or protective jacket.

This appendix contains a glossary of terms used in the electric power

system. Much of the information was taken from material made available by

ComEd.
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Most of the cables in Chicago are insulated with oil-impregnated paper and are

bound together as one cable, covered with a lead sheath. Other cables, also used

in suburban locations, are insulated with either an extruded plastic insulator or a

synthetic rubber compound. Both types of cable have a stranded concentric

neutral conductor and are covered with a tough plastic jacket for mechanical

protection. See Concentric Cable, Lead Cable.

Capability

The maximum load that a generating unit, generating station, or other item of

electrical equipment can carry for a designated amount of time without exceeding

approved limits and subsequently causing equipment damage and/or going out of

service permanently. See Emergency Rating.

Capacity

The amount of electric power required to operate an electric system.

Capacitor

A device that maintains the voltage of transmission and distribution lines.

Capacitors are usually mounted on poles or in substations.

Circuit

A conductor or a system of conductors through which electric current flows. See

Distribution Line, Feeder.

Circuit Breaker

A switch located in a substation that is used to connect and disconnect electric

circuits. Circuit breakers operate automatically to de-energize or disconnect

power to a circuit when faults occur, thus protecting the system, equipment, and

possibly the public. They can also be operated manually to isolate electric lines

or equipment for maintenance or repair work. Circuit breakers on the electric

system perform the same function as household circuit breakers.

Co-generator

A generating facility that produces electricity and another form of energy such as

heat or steam for industrial, commercial, heating, or cooling purposes.

Community Transformer Location (CTL)

A designation used by ComEd for the distribution system. A CTL provides

electric service to multiple customers.

Concentric Cable

Used primarily in suburban locations, concentric cables are insulated with either

an extruded plastic insulator or a synthetic rubber compound. The primary

components of concentric cable include the conductor, conductor shielding,

insulation, insulation shielding or semiconductor, concentric neutral wires, and

jacket. See Cable.
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Conductor

The overhead wires on the system, or furthest inner layer of an underground

cable that carries electric current. The conductor is constructed of either

aluminum or copper. Most new overhead applications are aluminum, while the

majority of conductors in existing underground construction in Chicago are

copper. See Conductor Shield, Insulation, Stranded Conductor.

Conductor Shield

A semiconductive material that is wrapped evenly around the conductor to

smooth out electrical stresses. See Conductor, Insulation, Solid Conductor.

Connection

The physical connection between two electrical units or systems that allows the

transfer of electric energy.

Control Cables

Electric cables used to control equipment, data transmission, metering, and voice

communications throughout the power system.

Current

The rate at which electricity flows; it is measured in amps.

Demand

The rate at which electrical energy is delivered to or by a system.

Demand-side Management

Utility programs that shift electricity demand to reduce peak loads or make more

economic use of utility resources.

Direct Current (DC)

An electric current of constant direction. See Alternating Current.

Distribution Center

A substation designation used by ComEd for the distribution system. Distribution

centers convert or “step down” (decrease) 34,000-volt power lines or cables to

12,000 or 4,000 volts.

Distribution Line

The overhead conductors or underground cable that feeds distribution

transformers, which, in turn, supply power to customers. Distribution lines are

also called primary distribution lines or feeders. See Circuit, Feeder.

Distribution System

A system of overhead power lines, underground cables, transformers, and many

other types of electrical equipment used to deliver power to customers. In the

ComEd system, the primary distribution voltages are 4,000 and 12,000 volts.
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Distribution Transformer

A transformer that converts electrical energy from a primary distribution circuit

to a secondary distribution circuit or customer's service circuit.

Electric Service Station (ESS)

A substation designation used by ComEd for the distribution system. An ESS

provides electric service to one customer.

Electrical Stress

A power line or cable that carries a load that is beyond its designated capacity

limits.

Emergency Rating

The maximum capacity for electrical equipment. See Capability.

Energy

Power supplied over time, usually measured in kilowatt-hours.

Fault

A short circuit. An unintentional electrical connection between conductors, or

conductors and ground, that results in high currents.

Feeder

The main backbone of the distribution system that typically consists of three

primary electrical conductors. Subordinate lines are often connected to these

main lines. See Circuit, Distribution Line.

Fossil-fueled Power Plant

A large electric power generating facility that uses fossil fuels (coal, oil, or

natural gas) as its primary source of energy.

Fuse/Fuse Cutout

A device that protects the electric distribution line from faults. Fuse/fuse cutouts

are similar to fuse boxes found in homes. Utility fuses, however, “blow” with a

loud noise.

Generating Capacity

The ability of a power plant to produce a given output of electrical energy at an

instant in time; it is measured in kilowatts or megawatts.

Generation Station Switchyard

A substation designation used by ComEd for the transmission and distribution

system. The yard can contain transformers, circuit breakers, buses, and

disconnect switches.

Generator

A large rotating electrical machine, driven by a turbine in a power plant.

Generators produce electric power for the bulk system.
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Gigawatt (GW)

A unit of electric power equal to 1 billion watts or 1,000 megawatts.

Gigawatt-hour (GWh)

One billion watt-hours.

Grid

A network of high- or low-voltage, interconnected circuits along which electrical

energy flows. See Transmission Grid.

Ground

An object that makes an electrical connection with the earth.

Insulator

Equipment that supports conductors and offers high resistance to electric current.

Insulators are used to isolate equipment carrying electrical current from other

equipment or facilities. There are several types of insulators, most of which are

made of porcelain or plastic resin.

Insulation

Applied over the conductor shield, insulation confines the electric field caused by

the voltage on the energized conductor in the cable. See Conductor, Conductor

Shield.

Insulation Shield

Also called “semi-conductor,” or “semi-con,” an insulation shield is a layer made

of an electrically conductive material applied to the outer part of the insulation.

The shield provides a smooth, continuously grounded surface for the insulation

so that the electrostatic field is confined uniformly. See Insulation.

Joint

A connection between two insulated cables. See Splice.

Kilovolt (kV)

A measure of electric voltage equal to 1,000 volts, (for example, 138 kV =

138,000 volts).

Kilovolt-ampere (kVA)

A measure of apparent electric power (voltage x current) used for transformer

ratings and other equipment ratings.

Kilowatt (kW)

A measure of real electric power: 1 kW = 1,000 watts.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

The energy produced in 1 hour by 1 kilowatt of electric capacity.
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Lead Cable

The most widely used cable in Chicago. It is insulated with paper, in the form of

tape, which winds over the conductor and is then impregnated with oil. See

Cable.

Load

The amount of electric power delivered or required at any specific time to meet

customer demand. See Load Demand.

Load Demand

The maximum level of electric power required to meet customer needs. See

Load.

Low-voltage Network

An interconnected set of transformers and low-voltage cables designed to provide

uninterrupted service when one or more elements are disconnected or inoperable.

Voltage ranges between 120 and 480 volts.

Manholes

Enclosures that protect underground cable or equipment while allowing access to

ducts for cable pulling and splicing. The shape and construction of manholes

vary depending on the location, soil conditions, and the number of conduits.

Manholes are usually constructed with concrete and/or brick. Some manholes

include telephone or other communication cables in conjunction with ComEd

cables.

Megavolt-ampere (MVA)

A measure of apparent electric power: 1 MVA = 1,000 kVA.

Megawatt (MW)

A measure of real electric power: 1 MW = 1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts.

Megawatt-hour (MWh)

One million watt-hours.

Merchant Plant

An electrical generator designed to sell electricity into a wholesale electricity

market rather than under the rules governing a monopoly electric utility, which

provides electricity to a designated service territory. Merchant plants may be

either base load or peaking units.

Meter

A device that measures how much energy a customer consumes, typically

measured in kilowatt-hours.

Neutral

A device that helps stabilize imbalanced current on some three-phase circuits. It

is normally connected to the ground.
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Nuclear Power Plant

A large electric power generating facility that uses nuclear fuel as its source of

energy.

Oil-filled Transformer

A transformer that uses oil for electrical insulation and cooling. The transformer

consists of a core and its windings immersed in a tank filled with insulating oil.

The top of the tank is fitted with porcelain bushings through which connections

are made to the windings. See Transformer.

Oil-impregnated Paper

The most commonly used insulation on cable in Chicago. Paper insulation has

many advantages, including high dielectric strength, low power factor, and

economical cost. The main disadvantage is its susceptibility to moisture, which is

why a solid metallic sheath, usually made of lead, is placed over the outer layer

of paper for further protection. See Cable, Insulation, and Sheath.

Outage

Loss of electrical service because of an out-of-service transmission or

distribution power line or equipment.

Peak Demand

The maximum load during a specific amount of time.

Peaking Units

Electrical generators that operate only during periods of high daily, weekly, or

seasonal load. During off-peak periods, they are either reduced in power output

or shut down. See Base Load Units.

Pole

A structure that supports overhead conductors and equipment at distances that are

safe and above the ground, buildings, and traffic. They are mainly constructed of

wood, although concrete, aluminum, steel, and fiberglass poles are practical for

overhead distribution because of their durability, light weight, adaptability with

other equipment, and suitability for climbing by qualified utility employees.

Power

The instantaneous current being delivered at a given voltage, measured in

kilowatt-hours.

Primary Distribution Line

The electric distribution circuit operating at 2,400 to 34,000 volts. See

Distribution Line.

Protective Relays

Devices installed at substations and on transmission/distribution lines,

transformers, generators, and other electrical equipment to protect equipment by

detecting abnormal conditions such as system faults, grounds, and other
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problems. The relays usually operate circuit breakers to properly remove the

equipment from service. Many types of relays protect ComEd equipment. See

Relays.

Radial Circuit

A configuration for supplying electric power that involves a transmission line or

a primary distribution line extending from a substation to connected customer

loads, without an alternate path of supply to the end of the circuit.

Rating

The conditions specified by a manufacturer that define the safe operating limits

of electrical equipment. Ratings usually include voltage, power, and temperature

and are listed on the equipment nameplate.

Recloser

A switch designed to open and close a circuit automatically. A recloser opens a

circuit when a fault is detected to protect equipment, then recloses the circuit

after a short delay. If the fault persists, the recloser operates a predetermined

number of times then locks open and must be manually reset.

Redundancy

Provision of duplicate or backup equipment to operate in case of a failure.

Relay

An electromechanical, solid-state (electronic), or digital device that responds to

an operating signal to open or close electrical contacts to produce an effect on

another circuit, such as a circuit breaker. See Protective Relays.

Renewable Energy

A source of energy that is constantly replenished through natural processes, such

as sunlight, moving water, and wind, to generate electricity.

Residential Service Drop

Wires that run from the utility pole to a customer’s house, usually two 120-volt

lines and a neutral line, from which the customer can obtain either 120 or

240 volts of power.

Riser

The assembly required to connect the overhead equipment to the underground

electric system. A riser also refers to the configurations of cable and equipment

used to distribute power throughout a high-rise building.

Secondary Line

The electric distribution circuit on the low-voltage side of a transformer. Voltage

ranges between 120 and 480 volts.
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Service Territory

The state, area, or region served by an electric utility.

Sheath

A metallic layer covering or sealing the internal components of a cable. Used

mainly on paper-insulated cables, sheaths are often constructed of lead, although

copper strands are becoming more common. See Cable.

Solid Conductor

A conductor constructed of a single, solid strand of copper or aluminum. See

Conductor.

Splice

A connection between cable sections. See Joint.

Stranded Conductor

A conductor constructed of several strands of wire twisted or braided together to

form a single conductor. Stranded conductors are generally more flexible and

stronger than single-wire conductors. See Conductor.

Substation

A power system facility containing electrical equipment used to interconnect the

power grid, transform power to different voltages, and route it to the next portion

of the electrical system. A substation usually includes circuit breakers,

transformers, capacitors, and inductors, as well as a control building for relays

and other monitoring and operating equipment. There are five general types of

substations — generation station switchyard, transmission substation,

transmission distribution center, distribution center, and electrical service station.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System

A real-time computer-based system used to operate substation or power plant

equipment from a remote location. The SCADA system usually utilizes

telephone lines, microwaves, or fiber optics to communicate from the equipment

to the control centers.

Switchgear

A unit that contains electric fuses and/or disconnect switches to facilitate

distribution switching.

Switching

The act of reconfiguring the transmission/distribution system, either manually or

automatically, to facilitate outage restoration efforts and system improvements.

Switching is usually performed by opening and/or closing disconnect switches

and circuit breakers.
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Transformer

A device that helps transmit electrical energy over long distances by “stepping

up” (increasing) or “stepping down” (decreasing) electrical pressure (voltage) to

reach different users. Transformers range in size, depending on the voltage level

being imported and exported. See Oil-filled Transformer.

Transformer Vault

A structure built of concrete or brick that houses transformers and switchgear for

some residential and commercial areas.

Transmission Distribution Center (TDC)

A substation designation used by ComEd. TDCs convert 138,000 volts on the

transmission side to 12,000 volts on the distribution side.

Transmission Grid

A network of high-voltage transmission lines along which electrical energy

flows. The United States has three distinct electric power grids: the Eastern

Interconnection, the Texas Interconnection, and the Western Systems

Coordinating Council. See Grid.

Transmission Line

Any high-voltage line that operates at 69,000 volts or more.

Transmission Substation (TSS)

A substation designation used by ComEd. TSSs convert 765,000 volts to

345,000 volts, and 345,000 volts to 138,000 volts on the transmission side. Some

TSSs convert 138,000 volts to 34,000 or 12,000 volts on the transmission side.

Transmission System

A system of overhead and underground high-voltage lines, substations, and

electrical equipment used to deliver bulk power from generating facilities to

local-area substations for subsequent distribution to customers at lower voltages.

Transmission voltages in the ComEd system are 69,000, 138,000, 345,000, and

765,000 volts.

Voltage, Volts (V)

A measure of the pressure, or force, that transmits electricity. See Watt for

relationship between voltage and power.

Voltage Reduction

An intentional reduction of system voltage.

Watt (W)

A fundamental unit of electric power. Volts multiplied by amps equal watts

(1 V x 1 A = 1 W).
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Watt-hour (Wh)

A unit of measure equal to 1 watt of power that is supplied to, or taken from, an

electric circuit for 1 hour.
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77

APPENDIX B: MODEL FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

This appendix contains a model agreement for municipalities granting a

franchise to ComEd for operation of the electric power system within

municipal borders. Many communities in the Chicago Metropolitan Area

have adopted this model, usually with some modifications, as their

governing agreement. Of special interest with regard to electric power

disruption planning are Sections 1.6, 1.7, 1.15, 1.16, and 5.5.
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Final 2/19/92

VILLAGE [CITY] OF _________________________________

__________________________ COUNTY, ILLINOIS

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORDINANCE NO. ____________

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY

TO USE THE PUBLIC WAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY

IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND

MAINTENANCE OF AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN AND THROUGH THE

VILLAGE [CITY] OF ________________________, _________________COUNTY, ILLINOIS

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES [CITY COUNCIL]

OF THE

VILLAGE [CITY] OF __________________________________

THIS ________ DAY OF ____________________, 19 _____ [year]

Published in Pamphlet Form

by Authority of the Board of

Trustees [City Council] of the Village [City] of __________________________,

___________________________ County, Illinois,

this ______ day of _________________________ , 19 _____ [year].
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DEFINITIONS

2. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

3. RIGHTS GRANTED

3.1 Grant of Right to Use Public Ways and Public Property

3.2 Emergency Access to Public Ways Public Property

3.3 Exemption From Parking Restrictions

4. CONDITIONS OF GRANT

4.1 Construction and Location of Facilities

4.2 Relocation or Removal of Facilities

4.3 Restoration of Public Ways or Public Property

4.4 Trimming of Trees and Vegetation

4.5 Tree Location Program

4.6 Use of Utility Facilities

4.7 Removal of Facilities

4.8 Undergrounding of Facilities

5. SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

5.1 Adequate Supply of Power

5.2 Duty to Provide Electricity

5.3 Nondiscrimination

5.4 Maintenance of Facilities

5.5 Service Interruptions

6. ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROVISIONS

6.1 Technological Advances

6.2 Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities

6.3 Demand Side Management

6.4 Environmental Protection

6.5 Economic Sources of Power

7. ADMINISTRATION

7.1 Representatives

7.2 Facilities Maps

7.3 Duty to Provide Information

7.4 Disclosure of Documents or Information

7.5 Inspection of Facilities

7.6 Superintendent of Public Works

7.7 Notices

7.8 Coordination of Construction Activities

7.9 Annual Meeting

7.10 Notice of Boundary Changes

7.11 Notice of Regulatory Changes

7.12 Notice of Actions Before Competent Authorities

7.13 Notice of Requests for Rate Changes

8. COMPENSATION

8.1 Municipal Compensation

8.2 Waiver of Certain Fees and Charges

9. MUNICIPAL RIGHTS RESERVED

9.1 Police Powers

9.2 Regulation of Public Ways and Public Property

9.3 Municipal Acquisition of Facilities

9.4 Non-Exclusive Grant

9.5 Right to Compete with Licensee

9.6 Small Power Production and Cogeneration

10. TERM AND TERMINATION

10.1 Term

10.2 Acceptance

10.3 Effective Date

10.4 Reopener

10.5 Amendments

10.6 Renewal
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10.7 Termination

10.8 Rights upon Termination

11. REMEDIES

12. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

12.1 Non-Discrimination

12.2 Affirmative Action

13. LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

13.1 Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations

13.2 Compliance with Municipal Ordinances, Rules and Regulations

13.3 Violation of Laws, Rules and Regulations

14. INDEMNIFICATION, INSURANCE AND PERFORMANCE SECURITY

14.1 Indemnification

14.2 Comprehensive Liability Insurance or Self-Insurance

14.3 Indemnification Security

15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

15.1 Transfer and Assignment

15.2 Ordinance as Contract

15.3 Ordinance Requirements as Voluntary Undertaking

15.4 Scope of Ordinance

15.5 Expenses to Be Borne by Licensee

15.6 Most Favored Nations Provisions

15.7 Severability

15.8 Repealer

15.9 Force Majeure

Exhibit A

Exhibit B
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ORDINANCE NO. ____________

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY

TO USE THE PUBLIC WAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY

IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND

MAINTENANCE OF AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN AND THROUGH THE

VILLAGE [CITY] OF _______________________, ______________COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Be it ordained by the President and Board of Trustees [City Council] of the Village [City] of

_______________________ , County of _____________________ , Illinois, as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

As used in this Ordinance, the following terms, phrases and words and their derivations shall have the meanings given

in this Section, unless the context or use clearly indicates another or different meaning is intended.

1.1 “City” is the City of ______________________. ["Village" is the Village of _______________________.]

1.2 “Licensee” is the Commonwealth Edison Company.

1.3 “Clerk” is the Clerk of the Village [City] of ______________________.

1.4 “Competent Authority” means and includes any governmental body or forum vested by law with authority to

do the act make the order, rule or regulation involved.

1.5 “Corporate Authorities” is the President and Village Board [the Mayor and City Council] of the Village [City]

of ______________________.

1.6 “Edison Representative” is the person or persons designated by the Licensee to be responsible for the day-today performance of the Licensee's duties under this Ordinance and who shall be available and accessible to the

Village [City] for that purpose during regular office hours.

1.7 “Edison Emergency Representative” is the person or persons designated by the Licensee to be responsible for

the performance of the Licensee's duties under this Ordinance during emergencies and at all times other than the

Licensee's regular office hours and who shall be available and accessible to the Village [City] for that purpose

during emergencies and at all times other than the Licensee's regular office hours. The Edison Representative

may also be designated as the Edison Emergency Representative.

1.8 “Electric System” shall mean a system for the production, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity for

lighting, heating, power and other purposes within and outside the corporate limits of the Village [City].

1.9 “Energy Efficiency/DSM” means applications of technologies and techniques for increasing the efficiency of

electric energy use or managing demand for electric energy. Such applications may be designed to achieve

greater end use benefits from electric energy consumed, reductions in electric energy consumption, shifts of

electric energy demand to times when it can be met more economically, or other initiatives designed to manage

or reduce demand for electric energy.

1.10 “FERC” means and refers to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or other authority succeeding to the

regulatory powers of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

1.11 “Generating Facilities” are those Facilities used or constructed by the Licensee for the purpose of generating

or producing electric energy.

1.12 “High Voltage Transmission Lines” means power lines designed to transmit electricity at 138 kilovolts

(138 kV) or more.

1.13 “ICC” means and refers to the Illinois Commerce Commission or other authority succeeding to the regulatory

powers of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

1.14 “Liability” includes, but is not limited to: actual or claimed loss or damage to property or injury to or death of

persons; actual or claimed responsibility for such loss, damage, injury or death; and any and all judgments,

decrees, costs and expenses of every sort and kind incident to such loss, damage, injury, death or responsibility,

including, but not limited to, court costs, fines and attorney's fees.

1.15 “Municipal Electric Representative” is the person or persons designated by the Village [City] to be

responsible for the day-to-day implementation of this Ordinance on behalf of the Village [City] during regular

office hours.

1.16 “Municipal Emergency Electric Representative” is the person or persons designated by the Village [City] to

be responsible for the implementation of this Ordinance on behalf of the Village [City] during emergencies and

at all times other than the Village's [City's] regular office hours.

1.17 “Other Ways” means rights-of-way within the Village [City] that are under the jurisdiction and control of a

governmental entity other than the Village [City].

1.18 “Overhead Distribution Facilities” are poles, wires, cables and other overhead apparatus used in the

distribution of electricity not to exceed 14,000 volts.

1.19 “Overhead Facilities” are Transmission and Distribution Utility Facilities located on or above the surface of

the ground, including the underground foundations or supports for such facilities.

1.20 “Person” means one or more individuals, associations, firms, partnerships, trusts, private corporations,

municipal corporations, receivers, or trustees.
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1.21 “Public Property” means all real property and all improvements thereon, owned, leased to, leased by or

otherwise controlled by the Village [City].

1.22 “Public Ways” means the surface, the air space above the surface and the area below the surface of any public

right-of-way, including, but not limited to, any street, highway, avenue, drive, boulevard, lane, path, alley,

sidewalk, waterway, bridge, tunnel, park, parkway or other public right-of-way including public utility

easements or rights-of-way over which the Village [City] has jurisdiction, and any temporary or permanent

fixtures or improvements located thereon now or hereafter held by the Village [City] in which the Village

[City] holds rights sufficient, without consent of any other Person, to permit Licensee the use thereof for the

purpose of installing or maintaining Licensee's Electric System.

1.23 “Transmission and Distribution Facilities” include all lines, equipment and structures used in the

transmission, distribution or sale of electric energy, wherever located. Transmission and Distribution Facilities

include High Voltage Transmission Lines.

1.24 “Underground Facilities” are Transmission and Distribution Facilities located under the surface of the

ground, excluding the underground foundations or supports for Overhead Facilities.

1.25 “Utility Facilities” are and refer to and include, but are not limited to, property, land, structures, equipment,

plants, works, systems and improvements of the Licensee, such as pipes, electric substations, conduits, wires,

transformers, cables, poles and meters, used in the production, transmission, distribution or sale of electricity

within the Village [City]. "Utility Facilities" includes all Generating Facilities, Transmission and Distribution

Facilities, Overhead Facilities and Underground Facilities.

SECTION 2. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

This Ordinance shall be construed in accordance with the following provisions.

2.1 When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in the

plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number.

2.2 The words "shall and "will" are mandatory and the word "may" is permissive.

2.3 The provisions of this Ordinance shall be read as a whole so as to effect the purposes of this Ordinance.

2.4 Section headings are descriptive and used merely for the purpose of organization. Where inconsistent with the

text, section headings are to be disregarded.

SECTION 3. RIGHTS GRANTED

3.1 Grant of Right to Use Public Ways and Public Property. The Village [City] hereby grants to the Licensee

the right, permission and authority to construct, operate and maintain in and through the Village [City] its

Electric System and to construct, operate and maintain all such Utility Facilities as may be necessary or

convenient for such Electric System, in, upon, along, over, across, above and under the Public Ways and

Public Property in the Village [City], for the period of time and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter

specified.

3.2 Emergency Access to Public Ways and Public Property. In the event of an emergency which the Licensee

reasonably believes poses a threat of immediate harm to the public or to any of the Utility Facilities, the

Licensee is hereby granted access to the Public Ways and Public Property, without a permit, to ameliorate the

threatened harm. The Licensee shall promptly advise the Village [City] of the emergency.

3.3 Exemption from Parking Restrictions. While used in the course of installation, repair and maintenance work

on the Utility Facilities, Licensee's vehicles shall be exempt from parking restrictions of the Village [City].

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS OF GRANT

4.1 Construction and Location of Facilities.

4.1.1 The Licensee or any Person acting on its behalf may construct, repair, maintain, renew or replace

Utility Facilities located in the Public Ways, on Public Property, or on Other Ways, subject to the

following conditions:

4.1.1.1 The Licensee shall obtain a permit in accordance with the applicable ordinances of the Village

[City]. The Licensee shall include with its permit application such plans and schedules for

restoration of the Public Ways or Public Property as the Village [City] may require by

ordinance.

4.1.1.2 The Licensee shall obtain all necessary approvals from any Competent Authority for the

performance of said work, and such work shall be performed in accordance with the plans and

specifications approved or prescribed by Competent Authority.

4.1.1.3 Except as provided in this Ordinance, neither the Licensee nor any Person acting on its behalf

shall take any action or allow any action to be done which may impair or damage the Public

Ways, any property located on the Public Ways, or the Public Property

4.1.1.4 Neither the Licensee nor any person acting on its behalf may interfere unreasonably with the

use of the Public Ways or Public Property by the general public or by other Persons authorized

to use or be present upon said Public Ways or Public Property.
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4.1.1.5 The Licensee shall provide reasonable notice to the Village [City] before beginning any work

in Other Ways within the Village [City].

4.1.1.6 To the extent practicable, the Licensee shall notify the Village [City] of plans to undertake any

construction, repair, maintenance or replacement of Utility Facilities in conjunction with the

annual planning meeting provided for in Section 7.8. This notice shall be in addition to any

other notice requirements imposed by other applicable ordinances. The notice requirements of

this paragraph do not apply to the installation of lateral service connections to individual

customers.

4.1.1.7 In the event of an emergency, if prior acquisition of formal authorization is not possible, the

Licensee or any Person acting on its behalf may undertake the work described above without

first acquiring formal authorization, provided that the Licensee uses its best efforts to contact

the Municipal Emergency Electric Representative prior to performing such work and provided

further that the Licensee shall apply for such formal authorization at the earliest reasonable

opportunity.

4.1.2 All Transmission and Distribution Facilities erected hereunder shall be placed in alleys wherever

practicable so to do, and shall be so placed, wherever located, so as not to interfere unnecessarily with

travel on or access to the Public ways.

4.1.3 Unless specifically permitted by the Village [City], all Utility Facilities erected under this Ordinance

shall be located so as not to injure any drains, sewers, catch basins, water pipes, pavements or other

public improvements.

4.1.4 All poles shall be of sufficient length to be anchored substantially in the ground and to extend to a

height of at least 25 feet above the surface. Poles shall be adequately braced wherever necessary.

4.1.5 All wires, conductors, transformers and other apparatus that are attached to utility poles shall be at a

sufficient height to preclude interference with free use of the Public Ways.

4.1.6 Prior to filing any application with a Competent Authority for the construction of any Generating

Facilities or High-Voltage Transmission Lines within the corporate limits of the Village [City], the

Licensee shall meet with the Village [City] to discuss such plans.

4.1.7 Any Utility Facilities in the Public Ways that have been, or are at any future time acquired, leased or

utilized in any manner by the Licensee are thereupon to be deemed authorized by and shall be subject

to all the provisions of this Ordinance.

4.1.8 Except as otherwise provided herein, the Licensee shall not be required to change the location, the

height above, or the depth below the Public Ways of those Utility Facilities in place as of the effective

date of this Ordinance.

4.2 Relocation or Removal of Facilities.

4.2.1 Upon receiving at least 30 days notice from the Village [City], the Licensee shall, at its own expense,

temporarily or permanently remove, relocate, change or alter the position of any Utility Facilities in

Public Ways or Public Property whenever the Corporate Authorities shall have determined that such

removal, relocation, change or alteration: (1) is reasonably necessary for the construction, repair,

maintenance, improvement or use of such Public Ways or Public Property; (2) is reasonably necessary

for the location, construction, replacement, maintenance, improvement or use of other property of the

Village [City]; or (3) is reasonably necessary for the operations of the Village [City]. The Village

[City] agrees to engineer the projects in the Public Ways and Public Property either so as not to require

any such removal, relocation, change or alteration or, if that is not reasonably feasible, so as to

minimize the Licensee's expenses in making such removals, changes or alterations. The Licensee will

not be responsible for the expense of removals, relocations, changes or alterations required by the

Village [City] primarily for the purpose of assisting either private projects or a municipal electric

utility.

4.2.2 Whenever it shall be necessary for the Village [City] or any other Person to move along or across the

Public Ways, any vehicle, equipment, structure or other object of such height or size as will interfere

with any of the Licensee's Overhead Facilities, the Licensee shall temporarily remove such Overhead

Facilities from such place as must necessarily be crossed by such vehicle, equipment, structure or other

object, provided that: (1) the Licensee shall receive at least 24 hours notice thereof from the Village

[City] Electric Representative; (2) the Licensee shall have received payment for such removal, where

payment is required; and (3) such temporary removal shall be done at such time of the day or night as

will least interfere with the Licensee's use of such wires and poles for the benefit of the inhabitants of

the Village [City] and the successful operation of the Licensee's Electric System. It is understood that

the Licensee shall bear the expense of any such temporary removals for projects being undertaken by

or for the benefit of the Village [City] or its agent and that the expense of all other such temporary

removals shall be borne by the Person requesting such removal. All questions as to the time when any

of said wires and poles shall be so cut, removed or adjusted for the purpose aforesaid shall be decided

by the Municipal Electric Representative, and such decision shall be final.
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4.3 Restoration of Public Ways or Public Property

4.3.1 When the Licensee, or any Person acting on its behalf, does any work in or affecting the Public Ways

or Public Property, it shall, at its own expense, remove any obstructions therefrom and restore such

Public Ways or Public Property to as good a condition as existed before the work was undertaken,

unless otherwise directed by the Village [City].

4.3.2 If weather or other conditions do not permit the complete restoration required by this paragraph, the

Licensee may temporarily restore the affected Public Ways or Public Property upon receiving the

approval of the Village [City] Electric Representative, provided that such approval shall not be

unreasonably withheld. Such temporary restoration shall be at the Licensee's sole expense and the

Licensee shall promptly undertake and complete the required permanent restoration when the weather

or other conditions no longer prevent such permanent restoration.

4.3.3 Upon the request of the Village [City], the Licensee shall restore the Public Ways or Public Property to

a better condition than existed before the work was undertaken, provided that the Village [City] shall

bear any additional costs of such restoration.

4.3.4 If the Licensee fails to restore the Public Ways or Public Property or to remove any obstruction

therefrom, as required by this paragraph, the Village [City] may, after communications with the Edison

Representative and after affording the Licensee a reasonable opportunity to correct the situation, give

seven days written notice to the Licensee, and thereafter restore such Public Ways or Public Property

or remove the obstruction therefrom. No such prior written notice shall be required in the event that the

Village [City] determines that an emergency situation exists. The Licensee shall pay the Village [City]

for any such restoration or removal within 14 days after receiving a bill from the Village [City] for

such work.

4.4 Trimming of Trees and Vegetation. From time-to-time, when the Licensee believes it to be warranted by

existing conditions, the Licensee shall, at its own expense, cause the trees and vegetation growing upon or

overhanging any of the Public Ways or Public Property in the Village [City] where Utility Facilities are erected

to be trimmed in such a manner that there shall be a proper clearance between the nearest wires or equipment

and any portion of the trees or vegetation. The trees and vegetation shall be trimmed so that no branches, twigs

or leaves come in contact with or in any way interfere with said Utility Facilities. The Licensee shall notify the

Village [City] Electric Representative no less than seven days before it plans to perform such work. The Village

[City] Electric Representative shall approve the time, place and manner of performing such work.

4.5 Tree Location Program

4.5.1 Tree Removal and Replacement. The Licensee and the Village [City] agree to develop a cooperative

program for the removal and replacement of certain municipally owned trees located in the Public

Ways or on Public Property which conflict or potentially conflict with the Overhead Facilities. The

trees to be removed and replaced shall be designated by the Village [City] after consultation with the

Edison Representative. Within 30 days after receipt of a written notice from the Village [City] of trees

to be removed, the Licensee shall schedule a removal date acceptable to the Village City], and shall

remove the designated trees and dispose of all tree brush except that the Village [City] shall dispose of

stumps and logs over four inches in diameter. The Village [City] shall purchase, plant and maintain all

trees planted pursuant to the tree removal and replacement program, and the Licensee shall reimburse

the Village [City] for one-half of the Village's [City's] cost of tree replacement, up to a maximum

amount of $125 per tree. The reimbursement shall be made to the Village [City] within 60 days after

the Licensee's receipt of a written request for reimbursement.

4.5.2 Tree Selection. The Village [City] agrees to implement a policy for the purpose of regulating tree

planting on the Public Ways or Public Properties so as to allow only such low-growing tree species as

will not attain a mature height that will conflict with primary electrical lines and thereby require line

clearance maintenance. Such policy shall not preclude planting upright, columnar or pyramidal shaped

trees to the side of power lines, thereby avoiding the need for severe and disfiguring line clearance tree

trimming.

4.5.3 Tree Location. The Village [City] agrees that it will attempt to locate new trees and other new

vegetation on the Public Ways and Public Property so as to minimize contact with Utility Facilities.

4.5.4 Duration of Program. The Tree Location Program provided for in the foregoing paragraphs shall

remain in effect for the first 10 years of this Agreement, after which it shall be renewed on terms that

are mutually agreeable.

4.6 Use of Utility Facilities. The Licensee shall, when requested by the Village, (1) permit its Overhead Facilities

to be used for the suspension and maintenance of wires and (2) permit its Underground Facilities to be used for

the running and maintenance of wires, both as may be reasonably required either by the Village [City] or by

other Persons holding a valid municipal license or other valid authorization to use the Public Ways or Public

Property. Except as provided in the following sentence, the Village [City] shall be entitled to make such use

without charge. Such use by other Persons, and such use by the Village [City] for a proprietary purpose, shall be
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subject to such terms and conditions, including fees, as the Licensee may reasonably require. Such use of the

Utility Facilities shall be under the supervision and direction of the Licensee so as not to materially interfere

with the Licensee's present or reasonably contemplated usage of the Utility Facilities. Such use may not be for

the purpose of allowing any Person to transmit or distribute electricity. The Village [City] agrees to save and

keep harmless the Licensee from any and all liability incurred by the Licensee as a result of the Village's

[City's] use of the Utility Facilities pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the Village [City] be responsible

for liability incurred by the Licensee as a result of the use of the Utility Facilities by other Persons.

4.7 Removal of Facilities. The Licensee shall promptly remove from the Public Ways and Public Property all

above ground wires and the supports therefore whose use is abandoned and shall either promptly remove or

board up or render reasonably unaccessible all other Utility Facilities whose use is abandoned or discontinued.

The Licensee shall take reasonable steps to prevent any such non-removed Utility Facilities from becoming

nuisances.

4.8 Undergrounding of Facilities. The Licensee will relocate its Overhead Distribution Facilities in or on Public

Ways and Public Property in the Village [City], other than alleys, by placing the Overhead Distribution

Facilities underground, or rerouting them if necessary, if so requested by the Village [City]. The Overhead

Distribution Facilities to be placed underground or rerouted shall not exceed 500 feet annually and will be

determined by the mutual agreement of the Licensee and the Village [City]; the agreement of the Licensee will

not be unreasonably withheld. Scheduling of the requested work to be performed will be in accordance with the

Licensee's normal work scheduling practices. The total cost for such work including, but not limited to,

material, labor and overhead shall not exceed .40 percent of the revenues collected by the Licensee in the prior

calendar year for electric service in the Village [City]; except that if, on or before November 15, 1991, the

Licensee had made a written offer to the Village [City] to underground its Overhead Distribution Facilities at

the rate of either 500 feet annually or 2,500 feet every five years, then the cost of such work shall not be subject

to the foregoing limitation. The number of feet available to be undergrounded or rerouted in any year which are

not utilized may be carried forward for utilization in future years.

SECTION 5. SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

5.1 Adequate Supply of Power. The Licensee shall at all times take all reasonable and necessary steps to assure an

adequate supply of electricity to its customers within the Village [City] at the lowest reasonable cost consistent

with long term reliable supplies. The Licensee shall from time to time make such enlargements and extensions

of its Facilities as are necessary to adequately provide for the requirements of the Village [City] and its

residents.

5.2 Duty to Provide Electricity. The Licensee shall furnish electricity within the corporate limits of the Village

[City] to the Village [City] and to the inhabitants thereof, and to any person or persons or corporation doing

business in the Village [City]. All such electricity shall be furnished at the rates and under the terms and

conditions as provided from time-to-time by the ICC.

5.3 Nondiscrimination. The Licensee shall not, as to rates, charges, service, facilities, rules, regulations or in any

other respect, make or grant any preference or advantage to any corporation or person or subject any Person to

any prejudice or disadvantage; provided that nothing in this grant shall be taken to prohibit the establishment

from time to time of graduated scales of charges and classified rate schedules to which any customer coming

within an established classification would be entitled.

5.4 Maintenance of Facilities.

5.4.1 Upon receiving at least 30 days notice from the Village [City], the Licensee shall, at its own expense,

temporarily or All Utility Facilities shall be maintained in good condition.

5.4.2 All Utility Facilities shall be maintained in such a manner that they do not create hazardous conditions

for the Public Ways or Public Property.

5.5 Service Interruptions.

5.5.1 The Licensee shall make all reasonable efforts to prevent power surges and interruptions of service.

When power surges or interruptions occur, the Licensee shall reestablish service with the shortest

possible delay consistent with general safety and public welfare.

5.5.2 The Licensee shall make all reasonable efforts to notify the Municipal Electric Representative or the

Municipal Emergency Electric Representative of major service interruptions within the Village [City]

within one hour after the Licensee learns of such interruption. If, at the time such notification is made,

the Licensee is not able to provide an estimate of when service is expected to be restored, such

information shall be provided to the Municipal Electric Representative or the Municipal Emergency

Representative as it becomes available. A major service interruption is defined as: (1) an outage with

an interrupted load of greater than 1,000 KVA and persisting for 15 minutes or more; or (2) any outage
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with a significant impact, as such term may be defined by agreement between the Village [City] and

the Edison Representative, lasting 15 minutes or more.

5.5.3 No less than 24 hours prior to beginning scheduled maintenance, scheduled repairs or other scheduled

work on its Utility Facilities that may result in an interruption of electric service to customers in the

Village [City], the Licensee shall make a good faith effort to provide written notice to potentially

affected customers and to the Municipal Electric Representative of the scheduled time and estimated

duration of the work. The Licensee shall make a good faith effort to notify potentially affected

customers and the Municipal Electric Representative prior to performing any emergency work on its

Utility Facilities that may result in an interruption of electric service to customers in the Village [City].

5.5.4 The Licensee shall keep records of interruptions affecting service within the Village [City]. An

interruption will be considered as a failure of any portion of the system or equipment whereby the

voltage is reduced to less than 50 percent of the standard voltage for a period longer than one minute,

except that where automatic reclosing equipment is used only "circuit breaker lockout" shall be so

considered, unless the ICC promulgates a rule or regulation setting forth a different standard for

defining an interruption; provided that the Licensee shall notify the Village [City] of any docket

opened by any Competent Authority that would change the standard, and provided further that the

standard set forth herein shall remain in effect if the Competent Authority sets no standard by rule or

regulation. The record shall show the date, time of day, duration, extent and cause of the interruption.

5.5.5 The Licensee shall also maintain records showing the average customer outage frequency and duration

both within the Village [City] and for the Licensee's system as a whole.

5.5.6 Upon the request of the Village [City], but no less than once a year, the Licensee shall provide the

Village [City] with reports providing the information contained in the records maintained pursuant to

Sections 5.5.4 and 5.5.5.

5.5.7 On October 23, 1991, the Licensee filed with the ICC the rider set forth in Exhibit A hereto to provide

for a service policy allowing customers whose electric service is interrupted because of an operating

error or equipment malfunction for twelve or more consecutive hours to receive a credit against the

monthly customer charge.

SECTION 6. ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROVISIONS

6.1 Technological Advances. The Licensee shall investigate, develop and incorporate technological advances into

its equipment and service in its sole discretion and subject to order of Competent Authority. Upon the request of

the Village [City], the Licensee shall discuss such technological advances at the annual meeting provided in

Section 7.8.

6.2 Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities. The Licensee shall provide, on a timely basis, such

information as may reasonably be required for interconnection with the Licensee's system by the Village [City],

if the Village [City] desires to develop a Qualifying Facility, and by any Person doing business in the Village

[City] that desires to develop a Qualifying Facility related to its business in the Village [City]. A Qualifying

Facility is a cogeneration facility or small power production facility which meets the criteria for qualification set

forth in subpart B of 18 C.F.R. 292, as it may be amended from time to time.

6.3 Demand Side Management. The Licensee shall make systemwide expenditures in connection with the least

cost planning process of $25,000,000 through 1996 in furtherance of its recognition of the Village's [City's]

strong commitment to energy conservation and compliance by the Licensee with the least cost planning

provisions of the Public Utilities Act. In addition, to the extent that Energy Efficiency/DSM programs are

identified during the five year period described above that are cost-justified in the good faith judgment of the

Licensee, the Licensee shall expend at least an additional $25,000,000 in the implementation of such programs.

The Licensee shall implement cost-effective Energy Efficiency/DSM programs, consistent with the Licensee's

least cost planning requirements as an integral part of the Licensee's provision of electricity to its customers.

Examples of programs which the Licensee will consider for its Energy Efficiency/DSM program are home

weatherization and the maintenance of appliances and air-conditioning systems at peak efficiency. The Licensee

shall be required to implement only those Energy Efficiency/DSM programs that are approved by the ICC and

for which the Licensee can recover from its customers (i) program costs, (ii) offsets for lost revenue and

stranded investment (if any) resulting from such program and (iii) any appropriate return to the Licensee on

such costs, lost revenues and stranded investments, as approved by the ICC. The Licensee shall provide the

Village [City] with notice of the specifics of the Energy Efficiency/DSM programs within two business days of

the ICUs acceptance of the Licensee's proposal for filing.

6.4 Environmental Protection. The Licensee shall make such efforts as it deems necessary to meet the standards

required for its Utility Facilities in the Village [City] to meet applicable federal and state air and water pollution

laws. Upon the request of the Village [City], the Licensee shall discuss such environmental matters at the

annual meeting provided for in Section 7.9.

6.5 Economic Sources of Power. As part of its provision of electricity to the Village [City], the Licensee shall take

efforts to obtain electric power from sources other than its Electric System, when it considers obtaining such

power to be cost effective and as may be required by 83 I11.Admin.Code, Part 430, as it may be amended from
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time to time. In connection therewith, the Licensee shall make such adjustments to its rates as required by the

ICC.

SECTION 7. ADMINISTRATION

7.1 Representatives.

7.1.1 The Licensee agrees to maintain such local offices and facilities as it deems adequate for the purposes

of providing repair and maintenance services and personnel available during office hours to address

concerns the Village [City] might have regarding the provision of electric service and the

administration of this Ordinance. The Licensee shall provide the Village [City] with the location and

telephone number of the local office and the name and telephone number of the Edison Representative.

7.1.2 The Licensee further agrees to maintain such local offices and facilities as it deems adequate for the

purposes of providing the Village [City] with 24-hour emergency service pertaining to the operation of

the Utility Facilities. The Licensee shall provide the Village [City] with the location and telephone

number of the local office, the name of the Edison Emergency Representative and the telephone

number or numbers at which the Edison Emergency Representative can be reached 24 hours a day.

7.1.3 The Village [City] agrees to provide the Licensee with the name of the Municipal Electric

Representative and the telephone number or numbers at which the Municipal Electric Representative

can be reached during office hours.

7.1.4 The Village [City] agrees to provide the Licensee with the name of the Municipal Emergency Electric

Representative and the telephone number or numbers at which the Municipal Emergency Electric

Representative can be reached 24 hours a day.

7.1.5 The Village [City] and the Licensee agree that each one will promptly notify the other party in the

event that any of the information required under the foregoing sections is changed, so as to keep such

information current at all times while this Ordinance remains in effect.

7.2 Facilities Maps. Upon the request of the Village [City], the Licensee shall provide the Village [City] with a

current map or set of maps, showing the location of all Utility Facilities installed in or under Public Ways

within the corporate limits of the Village (City] provided that the Licensee shall not be required to prepare new

maps to comply with this provision if no such maps exist.

7.3 Duty to Provide Information. The Licensee shall, from time to time, furnish such additional information as the

Village [City] may reasonably deem to be necessary to enable it to determine whether the Licensee is

complying or has complied with the provisions of this Ordinance. The Licensee shall not be required to provide

information as to which it has a legal privilege to refuse to provide.

7.4 Disclosure of Documents or Information. The Village [City] agrees that no documents or information

provided to the Village [City] by the Licensee in accordance with this Ordinance shall be made available to the

public if such documents or information are exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the Freedom of

Information Act or Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act, as such statutes may be amended from time to

time.

7.5 Inspection of Facilities. The Licensee shall permit the Village [City], at reasonable times and upon reasonable

notice, to inspect the Utility Facilities within the corporate boundaries of the Village [City] so as to determine

whether the Licensee is complying or has complied with the provisions of this Ordinance.

7.6 Superintendent of Public Works. The Superintendent of Public Works, or such other person as the Corporate

Authorities may designate from time to time, is hereby designated the official of the Village [City] having full

power and authority to take appropriate action for and on behalf of the Village [City] to administer and enforce

the provisions of this ordinance and to investigate any alleged violations or failures of the Licensee to comply

with the provisions hereof or to adequately and fully discharge its responsibilities and obligations hereunder.

7.7 Notices

7.7.1 Notice to Village [City]. Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices from the Licensee to the

Village [City] under this ordinance shall be made in writing and delivered to the [Name and title of

person or persons] at the following address:

_________________________________________________

7.7.2 Notice to the Licensee. Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices from the Village [City] under

this ordinance shall be made in writing and delivered to the following representative of the Licensee at

the address shown:

Director, Regulatory Affairs

Commonwealth Edison Company

P.O. Box 767

Chicago, Illinois 60690

7.7.3 Changes in Person or Place for Notification. In the event that either the Village [City] or the

Licensee changes the person to whom written notices are to be directed or the address to which such

notices are to be sent, the party making the change shall promptly notify the other party of such change

in writing.
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7.7.4 All notices shall be effective upon their receipt by the person or persons to whom they are directed.

7.8 Coordination of Construction Activities. The Licensee and the Village [City] agree to exercise their best

efforts to coordinate to the extent practicable the timing of construction activities of each so as to minimize any

public inconvenience that might otherwise occur. In conjunction with this goal, shortly after January 1 of each

year, as agreed by the parties, the Licensee shall meet with the Village [City] and such other users of the Public

Ways as may be invited by the Village [City] to discuss scheduling of construction in the Public Ways, in that

calendar year.

7.9 Annual Meeting. No less than once a year, the Licensee shall attend a. meeting of the Corporate Authorities to

provide a status report of the Licensee's activities within the Village [City] during the previous year, to outline

its planned activities for the next year, and to answer questions the Corporate Authorities may have regarding

the Licensee's performance under this Ordinance.

7.10 Notice of Boundary Chances. The Village [City] agrees to notify the Licensee in writing of any ordinance,

statute or court or administrative action that causes a change in the Village's [City's] boundaries. Failure to give

such notice excuses the Licensee both from non-compliance with this Ordinance and from the non-collection of

municipal utility taxes within the area affected until such notice is given.

7.11 Notice of Regulatory Changes. In the event that either the ICC or the FERC opens a docket or proposes an

administrative rule that (1) would directly affect the Licensee and (2) would, in the Licensee's opinion, be

inconsistent with or change any provision of or duty under this Ordinance, the Licensee, within seven days of

determining such inconsistency, shall notify the Village [City] of such docket or proposed rule and what it

thinks is the inconsistency. The Licensee shall make a good faith effort to make such determination and to give

such notice prior to the expiration of any intervention period or comment period.

7.12 Notice of Actions Before Competent Authorities. In the event that the Licensee becomes a party to any

proceedings of Competent Authority that 1) would directly affect the Licensee and 2) would, in the Licensee's

opinion, be inconsistent with or change any provision of or duty under this Ordinance, the Licensee, within

seven days of determining such inconsistency, shall notify the Village [City] of such proceeding and what it

thinks is the inconsistency. The Licensee shall make a good faith effort to make such determination and to give

such notice prior to the expiration of any intervention period or comment period.

7.13 Notice of Requests for Rate Changes. The Licensee shall notify the Village [City] of any applications the

Licensee may make to the ICC to effectuate any change in its rates, including the riders thereto. The notice shall

be made in accordance with the notice provisions of this Ordinance, and shall be sent no later than two business

days following the date on which the rate application is accepted for filing by the ICC. For each rate or charge

affected by the application, the notice shall contain a statement of the existing rates or charges and all proposed

rates or charges. If the proposed rates or charges are to be phased in over a period of time, the notice shall also

contain a statement of the proposed rates or charges for each increment and the time period each incremental

increase is to be in effect. Upon the written request of the Village [City], the Licensee shall send the Village

[City] a copy of the complete application filed with the ICC. This provision shall not apply to applications filed

solely for the purpose of effectuating municipal utility taxes.

SECTION 8. COMPENSATION

8.1 Municipal Compensation. The Licensee will during each calendar year throughout the life of the Ordinance,

supply without charge to the Village [City] such an amount of electric energy as may be reasonably necessary

for: (1) lighting and various other uses in municipal buildings solely occupied for municipal purposes and not

for purposes of revenue (or such part thereof as may from time to time be so occupied) as may be identified as

eligible for such electric. Energy by the parties; and (2) traffic signals. The foregoing arrangement shall be

effective beginning with readings made after the date hereof of meters measuring electric energy for the above

purposes at locations set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Exhibit B shall be amended from time to time during the

term of this Ordinance so as to maintain a current list of the locations and traffic signals eligible to receive

service under the terms of this section. None of said electric energy so to be supplied without charge to the

Village [City] shall be used by the Village [City] for heating, street lighting, water pumping or other such power

purposes. Nor shall any of said energy be resold for any purpose whatsoever.

8.2 Waiver of Certain Fees and Charges. The consideration provided to the Village [City] by this Ordinance shall

be in lieu of: (1) any permit, license, inspection or other similar fees or charges imposed by the Village [City]

upon Persons for use of the Public Ways; or (2) any permit or license fee imposed by the Village [City] upon

any Persons for the operation of a business similar to that conducted by the Licensee.

SECTION 9. MUNICIPAL RIGHTS RESERVED

9.1 Police Powers. The Village [City] expressly reserves the right to adopt, from time to time, in addition to the

provisions contained herein, such ordinances, rules and regulations as the Corporate Authorities may deem

necessary in the exercise of the police power for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the Village's

[City's] citizens and their properties.

9.2 Regulation of Public Ways and Public Property. The Village [City] expressly reserves the right to enforce

reasonable regulations concerning access to or use of the Public Ways or Public Property, as may from time to

time be provided by ordinance, including requirements for permit applications.
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9.3 Municipal Acquisition of Facilities.

9.3.1 Purchase. At any time while this Ordinance remains in effect, upon written notice from the Village

[City] to the Licensee, the Village [City] may offer to purchase from the Licensee any or all of the

Utility Facilities located within the Village [City], or any lesser interest thereof, free and clear of all

mortgages and other liens in any manner provided for by law.

9.3.2 Condemnation. Nothing herein shall be deemed or construed to impair or affect, in any way or to any

extent, the right of the Village [City] to acquire the property of the Licensee, either by purchase or

through the exercise of the right of eminent domain, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to

contract away or to modify or abridge, either for a term or in perpetuity, the Village's [City's] right of

eminent domain.

9.3.3 Continuation of Service. In the event the Village [City] takes any action pursuant to this Section 9.3,

the Licensee agrees that it shall continue to supply electric service within the Village [City] and shall

continue to comply with the provisions of this Ordinance until the acquisition of the Utility Facilities

has been finalized and the ICC has authorized the Licensee to discontinue service within the Village

[City].

9.4 Non-Exclusive Grant.

9.4.1 Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed to grant the Licensee an exclusive franchise to operate

within the corporate limits of the Village [City].

9.4.2 The Village [City] reserves the right to make a similar use or grant a similar use in the Public Ways to

any other Person. The Village [City] agrees to require all other contractors, subcontractors, franchisees,

licensees and permittees in the Public Ways not to interfere unreasonably with the rights of the

Licensee in the Public Ways.

9.5 Right to Compete with Licensee. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed as a waiver of the Village's

[City's] rights to own and operate an electric utility in competition with the Licensee or to acquire any or all of

the Licensee's Utility Facilities in such manner as may from time to time be provided by law.

9.6 Small Power Production and Cogeneration. The Village [City] expressly reserves the right to engage in the

production of electric energy, both from conventional power plants and from cogeneration and small power

production facilities.

SECTION 10. TERM AND TERMINATION

10.1 Term. The franchise granted by this Ordinance shall last for a term of 50 years from its effective date, except

that, at the sole option of the Village [City], it may be terminated at the end of the 35th year, provided that the

Village [City] notifies Edison in writing of its intent to terminate within the first three months of the 35th year.

10.2 Acceptance. The Licensee shall accept this Ordinance by filing with the Clerk an unconditional written

acceptance hereof, to be duly executed according to law, along with proof of compliance required by Sections

14.2 and 14.3. The failure of the Licensee to so accept this Ordinance within 30 days of enactment shall be

deemed a rejection hereof by the Licensee, and the rights and privileges herein granted shall absolutely cease

and determine unless said period of time shall be extended by an ordinance duly passed by the Corporate

Authorities for that purpose before the expiration of the 30 day period.

10.3 Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon the Licensee's filing of its acceptance as

provided hereinabove or upon its passage and publication as required by law, whichever is later.

10.4 Reopener. At any time, but no more than once in any 10 year period, either party may require both parties to

negotiate in good faith on any proposed amendment to this Ordinance. The subject of any proposed amendment

shall be set forth in written notice.

10.5 Amendments. Except for the amendments to Exhibit B required under Section 8.1, no revision, modification or

amendment of this Ordinance shall be effective unless it has been passed by the Corporate Authorities and

accepted by the Licensee in writing.

10.6 Renewal. At any time during the first 60 days of the last year occurring prior to the expiration date of this

Ordinance, Edison may request the Village [City] to enter into negotiations toward renewing or extending this

Ordinance. Any renewal or extension shall be according to terms that are mutually agreeable and the Village

[City] shall not be bound to accept any particular terms or to renew any or all of the rights granted by this

Ordinance.

10.7 Termination. The rights and obligations of the Licensee under this Ordinance shall be terminated upon the end

of the term of this Ordinance, or at the end of the 35th year if the Village [City] has exercised its option to

terminate under Section 10.1, or upon the Licensee's forfeiture as provided in Section 11.

10.8 Rights upon Termination.

10.8.1 Upon any termination of its rights and obligations under this Ordinance, the Licensee shall not refuse

to provide electric service to any potential customers within the Village [City] unless a petition for

abandonment has been filed with and approved by the ICC.

10.8.2 Notwithstanding the termination of the Licensee's rights and obligations hereunder, by forfeiture or

otherwise, the Licensee shall remain subject to all, other applicable regulations and authority of the

Village [City], without limitation, as long as the Licensee continues to provide electrical service within

the Village [City] or the Licensee's Utility Facilities remain in the Public Ways or on Public Property.
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10.8.3 Any claims for indemnification for Liability incurred by the Village [City], its boards, committees,

commissions, officers, agents and employees arising from any incidents that occurred on or before the

termination of this Ordinance shall survive the termination, provided that such claims for

indemnification are timely made.

SECTION 11. REMEDIES

11.1 Subject to the limitations in Sections 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4 below, in the event the Licensee or the Village [City]

fails to fulfill any of their respective obligations under this Ordinance the Village [City] or the Licensee,

whichever the case may be, will have claims for breach of contract and specific performance against the other in

addition to any other remedy provided under this Ordinance or otherwise provided by law, except that no

remedy that would have the effect of amending the specific provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective

without such action as would be necessary to formally amend the Ordinance.

11.2 In the-event that the Licensee violates any terms of this Ordinance for conduct that is subject to the exclusive

jurisdiction of a Competent Authority other than the Village [City], the sole remedy for such violation shall be

before that other Competent Authority. For purposes of determining the applicability of this Section 11.2, no

provision of this Ordinance may be used as the sole basis to defeat the exclusive jurisdiction of such Competent

Authority.

11.3 In the event that the Licensee violates any term of this Ordinance for conduct that is also a violation of other

applicable Village [City] ordinance, the Licensee shall be subject to remedies under that other ordinance plus

ordinary contract remedies under this ordinance. Licensee shall not be subject to be fined under both Section

11.6 of this Ordinance and another ordinance of the Village [City] for the same conduct.

11.4 Subject to the limitation of Section 11.2, at the option of the Village [City], upon the finding by the Village

[City] that the Licensee has failed or refused to observe any terms and conditions of this Ordinance, the Village

may notify the Licensee in writing of the terms and conditions which it has not observed. The notice shall

inform the Licensee of the actions which the Licensee must take to correct the violation and shall grant the

Licensee a reasonable period of time to cure such failure or violation. In the case of an emergency, the notice

need not be made in writing. If a Competent Authority other than the Village [City] has determined that the

action giving rise to the Village's [City's] notice constituted a violation of an applicable rule, regulation or order

of such Competent Authority, then the cure period granted by the Village [City] shall be no less than the cure

period ordered by such Competent Authority. If the Licensee does not eliminate or correct such failure or

violation in accordance with the notice, the Licensee's rights under this Ordinance may be forfeited or the

Licensee may be subjected to any other remedies afforded by this Ordinance, including the assessment of fines.

11.5 In the event that a Competent Authority revokes or suspends any license, certificate or other authorization held

by the Licensee for the purposes of either operating any portion of its Utility Facilities within the Village [City]

or providing electrical service within the Village [City], then the Licensee's rights under this Ordinance shall

likewise be revoked or suspended, without further notice from the Village [City]. The Licensee's rights under

this Ordinance shall be reinstated (1) if the Competent Authority rescinds its revocation or suspension; (2) if the

revocation or suspension order is overturned upon review by a Competent Authority; (3) if the Competent

Authority reinstates the Licensee's license; or (4) if the suspension expires of its own terms. The original

termination date of this Ordinance shall not be affected if the rights forfeited under this Ordinance are reinstated

as-provided herein.

11.6 If, after failing to correct a violation of the terms and conditions of this Ordinance in accordance with the notice

issued to the Licensee under Section 11.4, the Licensee is found guilty of violating any provision of this

Ordinance for which the Village [City] is a Competent Authority, then the Licensee shall be fined not less than

One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense, and a separate

offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.

SECTION 12. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

12.1 Non-Discrimination. The Licensee represents that it will not discriminate against any person employed or

seeking employment with respect to hiring, promotion or tenure, or to terms, conditions or privileges of

employment, on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or ancestry, including, without being

limited to, any employment practice whereby the Licensee or any agency engaged or used by the Licensee

makes inquiry with respect to the race, color, sex, religion, national original or ancestry of any applicant for

employment by the Licensee.

12.2 Affirmative Action.

12.2.1 The Licensee shall make good faith efforts to expand opportunities for minorities and women in all

areas of employment, including but not limited to: hiring, promotion, recruitment or recruitment

advertising, compensation, and selection for training and apprenticeship.

12.2.2 The Licensee shall continue and expand its minority purchasing program and its efforts to promote

and enhance contracting opportunities for minorities.
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SECTION 13. LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

13.1 Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations. While this Ordinance remains in effect, the Licensee shall

promptly and fully comply with all applicable statutes, ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders, rules and

regulations of any Competent Authority other than the Village [City] having jurisdiction over the Licensee's

activities.

13.2 Compliance with Municipal Ordinances, Rules and Regulations. While this Ordinance remains in effect, the

Licensee shall promptly and fully comply with all applicable orders, rules, regulations and ordinances of the

Village [City].

13.3 Violation of Laws, Rules and Regulations. Any claim by the Village [City] that the Licensee has violated any

provision of this Section 13, shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Section 11 of this Ordinance.

SECTION 14. INDEMNIFICATION, INSURANCE AND PERFORMANCE SECURITY

14.1 Indemnification. The Licensee shall indemnify, become responsible for and forever save harmless the Village

[City], its boards, committees, commission, officers, agents and employees from any and all Liability incurred

by them:

14.1.1 for loss or damage to property of the Licensee, its officers, agents, employees, licensees and invitees

in the Public Ways or on Public Property pursuant to this Ordinance or for injury to or death of any

such employee, agent or licensee while in the Public Ways or on Public Property pursuant to this

Ordinance, however arising; and

14.1.2 arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission of the Licensee or any Person acting on its

behalf done or claimed to have been done by virtue of or pursuant to this Ordinance or by virtue of or

pursuant to order, rule, regulation or authorization by the ICC.

14.2 Comprehensive Liability Insurance or Self-Insurance. At all times while this Ordinance remains in effect,

and in recognition of the indemnification provided in the foregoing Section 14.1, the Licensee shall, at its own

cost and expense, maintain a program of third party liability insurance and/or self-insurance to protect the

Village [City], its officers, employees and agents from any liability for bodily injury, death, and property

damage occasioned by the activities of the Licensee under this Ordinance. As proof of compliance with this

requirement, the Licensee shall, during the life of this ordinance, keep on file with the Clerk a certificate of

insurance and/or an affidavit of self-insurance. Said certificate and/or affidavit shall show the types and

amounts of coverage. Any affidavit of self-insurance shall be signed by an employee or officer of the Licensee

who has knowledge of the Licensee's self-insurance program and is authorized to make representations as to the

scope of said program, and shall contain a statement making such representations.

14.3 Indemnification Security. As security for the indemnification required in Section 14.1, the Licensee shall,

during the life of this Ordinance, keep on file with the Clerk a good and sufficient bond in the penal sum of Five

Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) conditioned to protect and indemnify the Village [City] as provided in

Section 14.1. Said bond shall be subject to the approval of the Corporate Authorities. The Village [City]

reserves the right: (1) to require the Licensee to renew said bond whenever, in the opinion of the Corporate

Authorities, such action may be necessary; and (2) to require the Licensee to increase the amount of said bond

or to provide additional or other' security in the event said bond is insufficient to fully cover a claim made

against it, provided that the amount of the increased bond does not exceed the total amount of the claim made

against it, and provided further that the value or amount of such other or additional security does not exceed

Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or the total amount of the claim made against the original bond, whichever

is greater.

SECTION 15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

15.1 Transfer and Assignment.

15.1.1 Except in the event of the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Licensee, the Licensee shall

not have the right to assign its rights and privileges under this Ordinance or to otherwise transfer it in

any manner whatsoever, without the prior written approval of the Village [City], pursuant to an

ordinance enacted by the Corporate Authorities.

15.1.2 In the event of a transfer or assignment of the Licensee's rights and privileges under this Ordinance,

all provisions of this Ordinance which are obligatory upon, or which inure to the benefit of, the

Licensee shall also be obligatory upon and shall inure to the benefit of any and all successors and

assigns of the Licensee.

15.2 Ordinance as Contract. This Ordinance shall have the effect of and shall be a contract between the Village

[City] and the Licensee and shall be a measure of the rights and obligations of the Village [City] as well as of

the Licensee.

15.3 Ordinance Requirements as Voluntary Undertaking. The Licensee and the Village [City] understand that the

general operations of the Licensee are under the jurisdiction of the ICC and the FERC. The Licensee has

voluntarily agreed to perform the duties and obligations set forth in this Ordinance, provided that such

performance does not violate any applicable regulatory standard or any applicable statutes, ordinances, or

judgments or decrees of administrative or judicial tribunal.
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15.4 Scope of Ordinance. No privilege or exemption is granted or conferred to Licensee by this Ordinance unless

specifically provided herein. The permission and authority granted by this Ordinance are not intended to limit or

modify any agreement, franchise, license or permit previously granted by the Village [City] to any other Person

for the use or occupancy of the Public Ways, and the Licensee shall therefore exercise the rights granted by this

Ordinance in such a manner as shall neither unreasonably interfere with the rights, nor endanger or impair the

property, of other contractors, franchisees, licensees and permittees in the Public Ways. The Village [City]

agrees to require other contractors, franchisees, licensees and permittees of the Village [City] to exercise their

rights under such agreements, franchises, licenses and permits in such a manner as shall neither unreasonably

interfere with the rights nor endanger or impair Utility Facilities of the Licensee located in the Public Ways.

15.5 Expenses To Be Borne By Licensee. Unless specifically provided to the contrary, the Licensee shall be

responsible for procuring, through rates or otherwise, the revenues necessary to meet the expenses of its

performance under and its compliance with this Ordinance.

15.6 Most Favored Nations Provisions.

15.6.1 In the event that the Licensee accepts from any Illinois municipality, other than the City of Chicago,

an electric ordinance or amendments to an electric ordinance containing terms, conditions or

provisions different from those contained in this Ordinance; or if any other arrangement is at any time

made with any municipality other than the City of Chicago, the Licensee shall inform the Village

[City] in writing of such fact and provide a copy of such ordinance or other arrangement to the

Village [City]. If, within 90 days of such notice, the Village [City] adopts such other electric

ordinance or other arrangement of such other municipality, the Licensee agrees it will accept such

ordinance or other arrangement. In such event, the term of the new ordinance or arrangement will

expire at the time the original ordinance or arrangement was scheduled to expire, unless otherwise

agreed by the parties. Changes in the term of the ordinance or arrangement shall be subject to the

provisions of this Section, unless the change in the term is for a period of more than 50 years.

15.6.2 In the event that the Village [City] grants any benefit to any other electric utility regarding the use of

the Public Ways, such benefit shall be offered in writing to the Licensee, under the same terms and

conditions, within 30 days after it has been granted to such other electric utility. If the Licensee

requests the extension of the benefit to it, the Village [City] will take such steps as to provide such

benefit to the Licensee under the same terms and conditions, including amending this Ordinance

accordingly.

15.7 Severability. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be held invalid, the invalidity

of such section, paragraph, clause, or provision shall not affect any of the other provisions of this Ordinance.

15.8 Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions or orders, or parts thereof, in conflict with the provisions of this

Ordinance, or containing provisions granting any right, privilege or license to the Licensee or to any of its

predecessor companies, including An Ordinance Authorizing Commonwealth Edison Licensee, Its Successors

and Assigns, to Construct, Operate and Maintain an Electric Light and Power System in and through the Village

[City] of ________________________________, _________________________ County, Illinois, passed

____________________19_____, are hereby repealed. However, any claims for indemnification timely and

properly made under that last named ordinance survive this repeal.

15.9 Force Majeure. The Licensee shall not be deemed in violation of this Ordinance for the delay in performance

or failure to perform in whole or in part its obligations under this Ordinance due to strike, war or act of war

(whether an actual declaration is made or not), insurrection, riot, act of public enemy, fire, flood or other act of

God or by other events to the extent that such events are caused by circumstances beyond the Licensee's control

and are not caused by negligence on the part of the Licensee or any Person acting on its behalf. In the event that

the delay in performance or failure to perform affects only part of the Licensee's capacity to perform its

obligations under this Ordinance, the Licensee shall perform such obligations to the extent it is able to do so in

as expeditious a manner as possible. The Licensee shall promptly notify the Village [City] Electric

Representative in writing of any event covered by this Section and the date, nature and cause thereof.

Furthermore, the Licensee, in such notice, shall indicate the anticipated extent of such delay and the obligations

under this Ordinance to be affected thereby.
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PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE [MAYOR

AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY] OF ___________________, ILLINOIS, this ______ day of, _________________,

19_____ [year].

AYES: ________________________________________________________________________

NAYS: ________________________________________________________________________

ABSENT: ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________

Village President

[Mayor]

ATTEST:

___________________________________

Clerk

EXHIBIT A

The customer will be entitled to a reduction in charges for service equal to the Monthly Customer Charge for any month in which

service to the customer is interrupted for a period of 12 consecutive hours or more due to any of the following conditions:

(i) company equipment malfunction not caused by weather; (ii) Commonwealth Edison employee or contractor error;

(iii) accident involving Commonwealth Edison employee or contractor; (iv) damage to company equipment caused by

Commonwealth Edison employee, agent or contractor; or (v) overloaded company distribution equipment not caused by customer

negligence. If the duration of any service interruption resulting from any of the causes referred to in items (i) through (v) is equal

to or exceeds 24 consecutive hours, or if there is more than one such service interruption of 12 consecutive hours in a month, the

customer will be entitled to an additional reduction in charges equal to the Monthly Customer Charge for such month multiplied

by the number of increments of 12 consecutive hours of interruption in excess of the first such 12 consecutive hours. In applying

this provision to any outage in a month in which the Customer Charge changes, the Customer Charge in effect at the start of the

outage in question shall be used.

EXHIBIT B

[List of buildings and traffic signals to receive free service.]
95

APPENDIX C: MODEL ELECTRIC EMERGENCY ORDINANCE

This appendix contains a model ordinance for dealing with emergency

energy plans. It focuses on the implementation of controlled rotating

interruptions or “rolling blackouts.” The model was prepared by the

Northwest Municipal Conference, one of the Councils of Government in the

region, and distributed to all members of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
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Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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ORDINANCE NO. ________

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ___________________ CODE,

SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A LOCAL EMERGENCY

ENERGY PLAN

WHEREAS, the Village President and Board of Trustees (City Council) of the Village (City) of

____________, _____________ County, Illinois, find that the Village (City) of ______________ is an

Illinois home rule municipal corporation as provided for in Article VII, Section 6 of the 1970 Constitution

of the State of Illinois and, as such, may exercise any power pertaining to its government and affairs,

including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals,

and welfare; and,

WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees (City Council) further find that it is the most basic

responsibility of the Village (City) of ________________ to ensure the protection of the health, safety

and welfare of persons and property within the Village (City); and

WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees (City Council) further find that electric utilities have

a responsibility to protect the integrity of the electrical transmission and distribution systems and the

interconnected network; and

WHEREAS, certain electric utilities have developed emergency load conservation procedures to

protect the integrity of their electrical transmission and distribution systems and the interconnected

network, which contain plans for the controlled rotating interruption of electrical service, sometimes

known as "rolling blackouts," which could be implemented in portions of the Village (City) under certain

emergency circumstances, such as when the demand for electricity continues to exceed the supply after

other measures have been taken; and

WHEREAS, the impacts of such controlled rotating service outages may affect the ability of the

Village (City) to provide emergency services to its citizens insofar as such outages may interrupt essential

services to the community, such as traffic signalization and operation of water pumping stations; and

WHEREAS, certain facilities and customers such as hospitals, nursing homes, persons on life-support

systems, schools, high-rise buildings and day-care centers may require additional assistance from Village

(City) agencies if their electrical service is interrupted during such controlled rotating service outages; and

WHEREAS, the public health, welfare and safety require that the Village (City) know where and

when such controlled rotating service outages are likely to occur so that public health and safety agencies

and other personnel can be deployed quickly and efficiently, and so that alternative means to meet service

needs can be sought or implemented; and

WHEREAS, the public health, welfare and safety require that the Village (City) be made aware of

controlled rotating service outage plans developed by electric utilities, and be notified in advance when

those plans are expected to be implemented, so that the Village (City) may provide necessary services and

assistance to the public; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES

(CITY COUNCIL) OF THE VILLAGE (CITY) OF ____________, ___________ COUNTY, ILLINOIS:

SECTION 1: The foregoing findings of fact and recitals, and each of them, are hereby made a part of

this Ordinance and are incorporated by reference as if set forth verbatim herein.
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SECTION 2: Village (Municipal) Code of the Village (City) of _____________, as amended, is

hereby further amended in Chapter (Article)_____, by adding thereto a new _______, to read as follows:

SECTION (CHAPTER) (ARTICLE) _____

EMERGENCY ENERGY PLANS

Section __.1 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Section (Chapter)(Article), unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Control Area” means an electrical system bounded by interconnection (tie-line) metering and

telemetry. It controls generation directly to maintain its interchange schedule with other control areas and

contributes to frequency regulation of the interconnection.

(b) “Control Area Emergency” means that Control Area is at risk of having to shed firm load, having

taken or committed to take all feasible mitigating action short of shedding firm load and firm sales.

(c) “Controlled rotating interruptions of electrical service” means the implementation of a plan to

curtail electric service to firm load customers for a short period of time and rotating this curtailment of

electric service through different areas within the electric utility's service territory in a situation where the

demand has exceeded or is at significant risk of exceeding the supply of electricity available to the

electric utility. The action of an electric utility to interrupt or curtail electric service to a customer

participating in or taking service under an interruptible or curtailable rate is not included in this definition

of a "controlled rotating interruption of electric service."

(d) “Emergency energy plan” means the portions of the Emergency load conservation procedures,

which immediately precede and include the controlled rotating interruption of electrical service to firm

load customers within the Village (City). The Emergency energy plan shall include the following steps:

(1) a request for emergency help from neighboring utilities;

(2) a declaration of a control area emergency;

(3) a public appeal for voluntary curtailment of electricity use; and,

(4) implementation of the plan for controlled rotating interruptions of electrical service.

(a) “Emergency load conservation procedures” means a planned course of action developed by an

electric utility company to be implemented in emergency situations when the demand for electricity

exceeds, or is at significant risk of exceeding, the supply of electricity available to the electric utility.

(b) “Electric utility company” or “electric utility” means any person or entity engaged in the business

of distributing, transmitting, or otherwise delivering electricity, regardless of its source, for use or

consumption within the Village (City). This term shall not include any person or entity that delivers

electricity to fewer than 50 customers within the Village (City).

Section ___.2 SUBMITTAL OF EMERGENCY ENERGY PLAN.

(a) Every electric utility company must have adopted an emergency energy plan no later than 30 days

after the effective date of this chapter, or within 30 days after becoming an electric utility company,

whichever is later. Every such electric utility company shall submit to the (designated public official(s))
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an emergency energy plan adopted by the company no later than 30 days after the effective date of this

chapter, or within 24 hours of the time the plan is adopted, whichever is later. The electric utility

company shall be required to examine and update as needed its emergency energy plan at least annually.

The electric utility company shall notify the foregoing public official(s) in writing of any material

revisions to its plan and the rationale for said revisions within five (5) business days of the time said

revisions are made.

(b) The emergency energy plan shall include, at a minimum, information detailing:

(1) Circumstances that would require the implementation of the emergency energy plan;

(2) Stages of the emergency energy plan;

(3) The approximate geographic limits of each outage area provided for in the emergency

energy plan;

(4) The approximate number of customers within each outage area provided for in the

emergency energy plan;

(5) The police facilities, fire stations, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, day care centers,

senior citizen centers, community health centers, dialysis centers, community mental health

centers, correctional facilities, stormwater and wastewater treatment or pumping facilities,

and water-pumping stations that have been identified by the Village (City) and persons on

life-support systems that are known to the company, and that could be affected by

controlled rotating interruptions of electric service under the emergency energy plan; and

(6) The anticipated sequence and duration of intentional interruptions of electric service to

each outage area under the emergency energy plan.

Section ___.3 REVIEW OF PLAN.

(a) Upon submittal of the emergency energy plan to the Village (City), the Village (City) shall

review the emergency energy plan in order to determine if the emergency energy plan is complete and to

assure appropriate coordination with public health and safety agencies. The Village (City) may reject the

emergency energy plan if it does not contain all the information required under Section ___.2(b), in which

case the Village (City) shall notify the electric utility company in writing of said rejection and the reasons

therefor. The electric utility company shall thereafter submit a complete emergency energy plan to the

Village (City) no later than thirty (30) days after such notice is sent by the Village (City).

(b) The Village (City) and the electric utility shall work cooperatively to:

(1) Identify customers and facilities for which a controlled rotating interruption of electric

service would require heightened response by Village (City) public health and safety

agencies,

(2) Mitigate the potential impact of the plan on public health and safety, and

(3) Mitigate the potential impact of the plan on the duties of the Village's (City's) public health

and safety agencies.
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Section ___.4 IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY ENERGY PLAN.

(a) Whenever an electric utility company determines that it may be necessary to implement a

controlled rotating interruption of electrical service due to the demand for electricity exceeding, or being

at significant risk of exceeding, the supply of electricity available to the electric utility company, the

electric utility company shall do the following:

(1) Take appropriate action in preparation for implementing a controlled rotating interruption

of electric service and notify the appropriate electric utility company personnel, and

(2) Notify the (designated public official(s)) that the electric utility company will be

implementing its emergency energy plan. The notification shall be made pursuant to a

notification procedure approved by (designated public officials)) after consultation with the

(designated public official(s)). The (designated public official(s)) may waive the notice

requirement to accommodate exigent circumstances.

(b) Subsequent to providing the notice as required above, an electric utility company shall reasonably

and separately advise the designated Village (City) officials when it implements the each of steps of the

emergency energy plan. Such steps shall include the following:

(1) A request for emergency help from neighboring utilities;

(2) A declaration of a control area emergency;

(3) A public appeal for voluntary curtailment of electricity use.

(b) The electric utility company shall give a separate notice to the (designated public official(s)),

immediately upon the determination that there will be a controlled rotating interruption of electric service

pursuant to the emergency energy plan. The notification shall include the areas to be interrupted; the

sequence and estimated duration of the service outage for each area; and the affected feeders and number

of affected customers in each area. Whenever practical, the notification shall be made at least two hours

prior to the time of the outages, and in no case shall the notification be made less than 30 minutes prior to

the outages, if the company is aware that controlled rotating interruptions may be required.

(c) Notification required by this section shall be in addition to any notification requirements set forth

in any applicable franchise agreement or franchise ordinance, or as may be required by applicable federal

or State law or regulation.

Section ___.5 VIOLATIONS; ENFORCEMENT.

Any electric utility company that knowingly violates this chapter or any rules promulgated thereunder

shall be subject to a fine of not less than $2,500 and not more than $10,000 for each offense. Each day

that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

The Village (City) may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction or order to

compel the other party to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
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Section ___.6 CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to preclude or interfere with the implementation by an

electric utility company of measures necessary to assure the provision of adequate, efficient, reliable and

environmentally safe service, as required by the Illinois Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.).

Nothing set forth in this Section (Article)(Chapter) shall be deemed to modify the terms of any existing

franchise agreement or franchise ordinance otherwise applicable to any electric utility company, or to

excuse any performance required by such agreement or ordinance, or to limit any authority that may be

exercised pursuant to such agreement or ordinance, or to limit any remedy that may be available under

such agreement or ordinance.

Section ___.7 SEVERABILITY.

Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this Section (Article)(Chapter) be

declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court or agency of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or

unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining words, phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or

sections of this Section (Article)(Chapter), since the same would have been enacted by the Board of

Trustees without the incorporation in this Section (Article)(Chapter) of any such invalid or

unconstitutional word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.

SECTION 3: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage, approval and publication as

required by law.
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APPENDIX D: SAMPLE FORM FOR GATHERING

INFORMATION ON CRITICAL FACILITIES

The sample form in this appendix can be used to assemble information

about critical facilities. This form can be used to survey both municipalityowned and privately owned facilities. Information can then be loaded into a

computerized database for easy retrieval.

For certain critical facilities, it might also be desirable to have qualified

technicians conduct field visits to determine whether additional backup

equipment is needed.
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Municipality of 

Critical Facility Information Form

Date: 

Facility Name: 

Location Information

Facility Address: 

 Zip Code: 

Street/Road Intersection (if no street address is available): 

 

Facility Geographical Coordinates (if known): Latitude: Longitude: 

Contact Information

Contact Person – Business Hours: 

Phone: Fax: Email: 

Contact Person – Nonbusiness Hours: 

Phone: Fax: Email: 

Facility Category (check all that apply and circle the subcategory in parentheses):

___ Emergency Services (police, fire, emergency medical, disaster agency, 911 center)

___ Municipal Office

___ Water Facility (water supply, well, water tower, pumping station, wastewater treatment,

lift station)

___ School (pre-school, kindergarten, grade school, middle school, high school, college,

trade school)

___ Community Center (library, municipal recreation facility)

___ Transportation (road intersection, rail crossing, airport)

___ Telecommunications Facility (switching office, transmitter, repeater)

___ Medical (hospital, emergency center, medical office, nursing home, assisted living,

animal care)
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___ Public Congregation (recreation facility, auditorium, place of worship, theater, shopping

center)

___ Day Care (children, handicapped, elderly)

___ Multiunit Residential (low rise, high rise, senior)

___ Hotel

___ Other Government Facility

___ Commercial

___ Industrial

___ Other (specify) 

Electrical Service

Feeder Circuits (if known): 

Current Electrical Service Inputs (if known): 

Voltage (V): No. of Phases: No. of Wires: 

BACKUP EQUIPMENT

Is an On-site Backup Generator Available? Yes No 

If Yes, Give Type of Generator: Diesel: Natural gas: Other: 

Generator Capacity (kW): ___________

Portion of the Facility’s Normal Load That the Generator Can Handle: %

On-site Fuel Storage Capability / Time Generator Can Operate before Refueling: 

Generator Transfer Switch: Automatic: Manual: 

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Available: Yes No 

UPS Capacity (amp-hours): 

Equipment Connected to UPS: 

Time UPS Can Operate before Recharging: 

Rapid Connection Switches for Portable Generation Available: Yes No 
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Shelter Capability

Is the Facility Available as a Shelter?

For Summer Cooling: Yes No 

For Winter Warming: Yes No 

If Yes, Give the Approximate Shelter Capacity (No. of People): 

If Yes, Are Toilet and Shower Facilities Available? Yes No 

Additional Comments
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APPENDIX E: SAMPLE FORM FOR GATHERING

INFORMATION ON POWER-OUTAGE-SENSITIVE

INDIVIDUALS

This appendix contains an introductory letter to residents and a survey form

that can be used to identify power-outage-sensitive individuals who might

require special attention during an electric power disruption. This material

was adapted from forms developed by the City of Naperville.
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SAMPLE LETTER TO RESIDENTS

Municipality of 

Target Resident Program

Introduction

The Municipality of has established a Target Resident Program to track

pertinent information about citizens who could require special considerations in emergencies. The [Fire]

Department maintains this information in a computer database and makes it available to appropriate

emergency response personnel from the Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments. Participation in this

program by residents is strictly voluntary.

Who Qualifies as a Target Resident?

Through this program, the Municipality of attempts to identify individuals

with special needs due to serious medical conditions, significant physical or mental impairments, or

extraordinary requirements for uninterrupted utility service (electric power, natural gas, telephone). The

information in the target resident database can be accessed by emergency responders from various

municipal agencies after a resident has dialed 9-1-1 from his/her home.

Persons who have serious medical conditions should consider registering for the Target Resident

Program. One advantage to participating in this voluntary program is illustrated by the following

example. If a target resident requests an ambulance, Fire Department paramedics would be able to access

in advance vital data about his/her medical history. Such data would include:

 Potentially life-threatening illnesses,

 Conditions that could impair a person’s ability to communicate with emergency medical personnel,

and

 Unusual or rare medical conditions or requirements.

Residents who would find it difficult to exit their homes in an emergency (because of physical or mental

impairments) should also consider registering with this program. Target resident data would give Police

and Fire Department personnel advance warning about potential rescue needs in an emergency.

Individuals who maintain electrically powered life-sustaining equipment in their homes would also

benefit from participating in the Target Resident Program because municipal departments would be

advised of the need for uninterrupted electrical service. This information would help these departments

identify residences that might require temporary emergency electric power during service interruptions.

Participation in the Target Resident Program, however, does not guarantee that emergency workers would

respond automatically during unplanned outages (e.g., due to inclement weather). While the municipality

has some emergency electric generators available, it does not have enough to service the needs of all

target residents if a widespread community power failure were to occur. Therefore, it is recommended

that all residents with unique needs for uninterrupted electric power service assess their specific

requirements and consider obtaining their own backup power source.
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How Do People Register for the Target Resident Program?

Residents can register for the Target Resident Program by completing the enclosed form. Additional

copies of these forms can be obtained from the Department.

Forms should be returned to the Department for processing.

The Department will review all information in the Target Resident

database on an annual basis. Residents currently listed in the database will receive a notice requesting

them to update, continue, or cancel their listing. Individuals who do not respond to the annual update

notice will be removed from the listing.

We hope you will seriously consider participation in the Target Resident Program.

 

(signed)

For questions and additional information, contact:

 

 
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Municipality of 

Target Resident Information Form

Date: 

Name: 

Address: Zip Code: 

Phone: ( ) Date of Birth: 

Name of Spouse/Parent/Guardian: 

Spouse/Parent/Guardian Home Phone: ( ) Work Phone: ( ) 

School Attending in Municipality (if student): 

 

Medical Condition: 

 

 

Special Instructions for Emergency Personnel: 

 

 

Physician’s Name: Physician’s Phone: ( ) 

Affiliate Hospital: Phone: ( ) 

Do you have any medical equipment that requires uninterrupted electric power? Yes No 

(If yes, complete form on back.)

Please read the following, sign, and return this form to [Fire Department]:

The undersigned understands and agrees that the above information is for informational purposes

only and shall not be construed under any circumstances to create any special duty or relationship

of any kind between the undersigned and the Municipality of 

to provide police, fire, or emergency services beyond those afforded to the general public. The

undersigned understands that the form must be renewed on an annual basis to prevent automatic

removal from the file.

The undersigned understands and agrees that the names, telephone numbers, and nature of the

medical condition listed above can be released to the emergency and law enforcement agencies

responding to a call for assistance and that this information will be broadcast by dispatchers over

emergency radio frequencies to responding emergency personnel.

Signature: 
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Municipality of 

Target Resident Program

Electrically Powered Medical Equipment Form

What type of electrically powered medical equipment do you use? 

 

 

 

For what purposes do you require this equipment? 

 

 

How often do you use this equipment? 

During what periods of the day do you use this equipment? 

 

Do you have a backup power supply for this equipment (e.g., battery)? Yes No 

If yes, please describe the backup power supply and approximately how long it can operate the

equipment:

 

 

 
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APPENDIX F: PREPAREDNESS MEASURES FOR CRITICAL

FACILITIES AND POWER-OUTAGE-SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

This appendix contains information on the following measures:

 Enhanced Grid Connection Measures

– Connection to Multiple Feeders

– Connection to Multiple Substations

 Alternative Power Supply Measures

– Standby/Emergency On-site Backup Generation

– Portable Generation

– Battery Backup Systems

 Distributed Generation Measures

 Demand-side Management Measures

 Special Applications

– Traffic Signal Battery Backup System

– Automatic Outage Notification

This appendix provides technical performance and cost information on

measures that can be used to prepare critical facilities and power-outagesensitive individuals for disruptions in electric service. The information

contained here is for information purposes only and does not imply

endorsement of any type of equipment or of any manufacturer or vendor.
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F.1 ENHANCED GRID CONNECTION MEASURES

 F.1.1 Connection to Multiple Feeders

Technical Description

Typically, a facility is connected to the electric power system by its customer

service line, which is connected through a transformer to a distribution feeder

line. The feeder line, in turn, is connected to a substation, which interfaces with

the rest of the power grid. Some facilities are connected to multiple feeders so

that continuous electrical service can be provided if one of the feeders is lost.

Multiple feeders can be connected to a facility in several ways. One option is to

split the electrical load at the facility so that each feeder serves a portion of the

load. If one feeder is lost, the other feeder can then continue to provide some

power for lighting and electrical equipment. A second option is to wire the

facility so that each feeder serves the entire load. In this option, the loss of one

feeder does not affect the electrical service to the facility because the other feeder

can pick up the entire load.

Facilities connected to multiple feeders have switching equipment that transfers

power between them. In general, switching equipment is designed to operate

automatically, that is, without the need for operator intervention.

The National Electrical Code allows the use of multiple feeders to provide

required emergency lighting and other electrical services. The document,

Recommended Practice for Emergency and Standby Power Systems for

Industrial and Commercial Applications, provides details on the use of multiple

feeders. (See Table 8.1 for references.)

Cost

The cost of connection to multiple feeders depends a great deal on the location of

the facility. The facility owner is generally charged an additional fee for multiple

feeder connections.

Implementation Considerations

Some facilities cannot connect to multiple feeders because of the configuration of

the local electric power distribution system. For example, facilities that are

located on a radial segment of the electric power distribution system without

multiple feeders nearby cannot use this measure.
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 F.1.2 Connection to Multiple Substations

Technical Description

In facilities that are connected to multiple feeders, each feeder can also be

connected to different distribution substations. Connections to multiple

substations provide an additional measure of reliability because they prevent a

loss of electrical service due to substation problems. Multiple feeders connected

to the same substation might all be lost if a failure occurred at the substation

level. If each feeder were connected to a different substation, however, the

effects from a single substation failure would be reduced.

Cost

The cost of connecting to multiple substations depends a great deal on the

location of the facility. The facility owner is generally charged an additional fee

for these connections.

Implementation Considerations

Some facilities cannot connect to multiple substations because of their location or

the configuration of the electric distribution system.

F.2 ALTERNATIVE POWER SUPPLY MEASURES

The document, Recommended Practice for Emergency and Standby Power

Systems for Industrial and Commercial Applications, referenced in Section 8,

provides detailed information on the applications of these systems. This section

provides summary information.

 F.2.1 Standby/Emergency On-site Backup Generation

Technical Description

Standby on-site backup generation consists of an electric generator that is driven

by an engine. Reciprocating engines are currently the most commonly used type

of standby on-site generator. Diesel oil is the most common fuel source. A

number of new units that use turbine engines are now commercially available.

These units are powered by various grades of oil, natural gas, or propane.

Engines that use fuel cells, photovoltaics, and other advanced technologies are

being developed but are not in widespread use in standby generator applications.

Standby generators are designed for intermittent use, not for continuous, longterm operation. Using such generators for approximately 1,000 hours per year

would approach the design limits for some units.
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The equipment comes in a wide range of sizes — from 1 to 10,000 kW. Units can

be grouped to provide larger quantities of power. Output voltage from the smaller

units is generally 110 volts, while the larger units can produce power up to

600 volts or higher.

Cost

In general, diesel-powered standby generators are less expensive to operate than

natural-gas-powered generators. Depending on the price of natural gas, gas units

might have lower overall costs.

Implementation Considerations

Standby generators can be equipped with either manual or automatic start-up

controls. The manual controls are simpler and lower in cost, but a qualified

technician must be available to start the unit when the utility power fails.

On-site fuel storage is an issue that must be considered when selecting standby

generator equipment. Building codes (see Section 8) require that a standby

generator must be able to operate for 2 hours using on-site fuel. Gasoline is

generally avoided as a fuel for standby generators because it is necessary to store

a large quantity of this highly volatile energy source on site. Diesel fuel is less

volatile and can be more readily stored in sufficient quantity to meet code

requirements. Natural-gas-fired units frequently are exempted from the on-site

fuel storage requirement, although some facilities rely on on-site propane storage

as a backup in case the gas supply is disrupted at the same time as the electrical

supply.

Environmental issues can influence the choice of standby generator equipment.

Air pollutant emissions and engine noise are the primary environmental

concerns. In some applications, the use of diesel engines might be prohibited

because of air pollutant emission requirements.

 F.2.2 Portable Generation

Technical Description

Portable generation systems are engine/generator sets mounted on a truck or

trailer, which allows them to be moved into position either in anticipation of a

power outage or after the occurrence of a power outage.

Portable generation units generally range in size from 5 to 5,000 kW and can be

connected to provide larger blocks of power. Most are diesel-powered, but some

of the newer units utilize turbine engines.

Some manufacturers provide portable generation units on rental as well as

purchase arrangements.
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Cost

On the basis of cost per kilowatt of power, portable generators tend to be more

expensive than fixed, on-site standby generators. Municipalities must decide

whether it is more cost-effective to use several fixed, on-site standby generator

installations or to use a portable unit that can be moved to several locations, as

needed.

Implementation Considerations

To use a portable generation unit, appropriate connections and switching

equipment must be installed at the facility. A facility that expects to use portable

generation equipment on a regular basis should have the connection equipment

designed and permanently installed to allow for rapid hook-up.

Noise and air pollutant emissions from engines are environmental concerns

associated with portable generators. Since these units are moved into positions

where they are not usually located, there might be problems with neighboring

facilities or residences because they are not accustomed to having this equipment

operate nearby.

 F.2.3 Battery Backup Systems

Technical Description

Battery backup systems are intended for short-term (e.g., minutes or hours)

service during a power outage. The length of time they can be used depends on

the number and size of the batteries in the units. The systems are often equipped

with automatic switchovers to provide uninterrupted service.

Building codes generally require emergency exit lights to be equipped with a

battery backup (see Section 8). The backup system must be able to operate for

11⁄2 to 2 hours and to switch over within 10 seconds of a power outage.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are available for sensitive electronic

equipment. These systems range in size from small units that can support a single

desktop computer to very large units that can support large electronic

installations. Their operational time ranges from about 15 minutes to several

hours. UPS systems can respond to power outages within a fraction of a second

so that electronic equipment is not disturbed.

Cost

The cost of UPS battery backup systems varies widely depending on the size of

the unit and the operational time. Lead-acid-type batteries are generally less

expensive than the newer nickel-cadmium batteries.
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Implementation Considerations

Some battery backup systems use batteries that contain hazardous materials

(e.g., acid, lead, cadmium). These systems must be installed in a controlled

environment. (See Section 8 for references to standards for battery systems.)

They must also be disposed of following strict environmental requirements.

F.3 DISTRIBUTED GENERATION MEASURES

Technical Description

The term, distributed generation, refers to generation units that are located at or

near customer facilities, primarily those that belong to industrial and large

commercial users. The units can be owned and operated by either the customer or

ComEd. The primary function of distributed generation units is to provide

additional power for customers and/or other nearby facilities during periods of

peak demand on the electricity grid. By relieving some of the load on the grid,

these units can forestall equipment failures caused by overloading. Providing

power during grid outages is a secondary function of distributed generation

equipment.

Distributed generation units can be powered by diesel engines or natural-gasfired turbines. Advanced technology microturbines and fuel cells are also

beginning to be used in commercial applications.

Distributed generators are designed for regular use, whereas the standby

generators discussed in the previous section are designed for intermittent use.

Distributed generator usage rates in the range of 4,000 hours per year are not

uncommon.

Distributed generation units are generally larger than standby generators, but

smaller than primary generators, although there is overlap at both ends of the

scale. Distributed generators generally range from 10 to 100,000 kW.

As electricity markets become open to competition, distributed generation units

could be used by their owners to avoid paying high peak-hour prices and/or to

sell electricity to the grid at the high peak-hour rates. Distributed generation units

are not, however, to be confused with units referred to as “merchant plants” or

“peakers” because they are generally smaller and their primary function is to

provide power to a localized area or customer. As technology develops, the lines

of distinction will undoubtedly blur.

Cost

The cost of a distributed generation unit can range from $300 to $3,000 per

kilowatt, depending on the technology selected. Estimates of the cost of
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electricity produced from these units range from 3¢ to 10¢ per kilowatt-hour,

depending on the technology and fuel used.

Implementation Considerations

The operation of distributed generation units must be coordinated with the

operation of the overall electric power grid because units are connected to the

grid during most of their operating time. They must meet more rigorous power

quality standards than those required of standby generators.

Environmental issues associated with air pollution emissions and noise can place

restrictions on the site’s location and on the operation of these units.

F.4 DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Technical Description

Demand-side management measures are designed to encourage customers to

voluntarily reduce their consumption of electricity during peak periods. The

reduction in load alleviates the stress on the electrical system and lowers the

probability of equipment failure due to overloading. Customers that reduce their

load are compensated with a lower overall electricity rate and/or a refund for the

reduction in load.

ComEd, like many electric utilities, has several demand-side management

options that are available to different customer categories. The ways in which

they operate are briefly described in the list below:

 Interruptible service. With the amount of advance notice and duration of the

cut-off period depending on contract terms, ComEd cuts off service to

participating customers during peak periods.

 Voluntary reduction. Upon notice from ComEd, customers reduce their load

to an agreed-upon level.

 Operation of self-generation. At the request of ComEd, customers start up

their on-site generation equipment, which reduces the demand on the electric

power grid.

 Air-conditioner cycling. Equipment that allows ComEd to control the cycling

time is installed on air conditioners.

The availability of these options and specific contract terms change; up-to-date

information can be obtained from ComEd.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Cost

There is no cost to the customer for participating in these measures. Some

customers might receive a payment and/or a reduced electricity rate for their

participation.

Implementation Considerations

Participation in these measures could result in an interruption in electrical service

during peak periods. Participants must evaluate the potential effects of these

interruptions and determine whether the rate reduction or payment offered is

adequate to cover these impacts.

F.5 SPECIAL APPLICATIONS

 F.5.1 Traffic Signal Battery Backup System

Technical Description

A traffic signal battery backup system provides power to traffic lights during a

power outage. The system consists of an inverter connected to a battery pack. It

is equipped with power line sensors, charger systems, and related control

electronics. In addition to providing backup power, the system can also provide

power conditioning protection for the traffic control system during normal

operation.

The system can be installed into a conventional traffic control housing or

mounted in a separate enclosure. A simple model switches the connected traffic

signal to a flashing red. More sophisticated models can provide sufficient power

to operate all signal heads at major intersections through their normal cycles, thus

providing uninterrupted traffic control.

The backup systems are designed to switch to battery power automatically in the

event of a power failure. There is no need for manual switching.

The amount of time that backup systems can operate depends on the battery

packs that have been installed. A small battery pack typically provides about

1 hour of service. Larger battery packs can provide up to 20 hours of service,

depending on the number of signals connected.

Cost

The cost of a simple battery backup system that will provide power to a single

signal head operating in a flashing red mode is approximately $1,500. The cost of

a system used to operate all signal heads at major intersections is approximately

$15,000. Installation costs can vary widely depending on the location and on

whether the system is new or retrofitted to an existing traffic control system.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Implementation Considerations

An evaluation of battery backup systems should be made in the context of the

desired traffic flow pattern. Installation at one intersection might not provide the

desired traffic flow control during power outages if adjacent intersections are not

similarly equipped. It might be necessary to provide backup at all intersections

on a particular route in order to maintain acceptable traffic flow.

 F.5.2 Automatic Outage Notification

Technical Description

Automatic outage notification devices sense a loss of electric power service at a

facility and relay a message to the electric company and/or to other

organizations. They are designed to provide immediate notification of a power

failure.

A typical unit, about the size of a standard deck of cards, plugs into both a

standard wall outlet and a nearby telephone jack. The unit is programmed with

information on the electricity customer, including address, electric power feeder

number, and substation connection. In the event of a power failure, the unit dials

a preprogrammed telephone number and sends a message that includes the

customer identification and time of power loss. Units can also be programmed to

send messages to pagers and fax machines. New units are being designed to use

cellular phones and radio signal communications.

Some units can also be programmed to provide automatic metering during

routine operation. Consideration is also being given to developing units capable

of reading water and natural gas usage as well.

Several electric utilities around the country are currently experimenting with the

use of automatic outage notification units to determine their usefulness in quickly

identifying power outage areas.

Cost

The cost of the individual units is minimal. The largest expense of the system,

which is incurred by the electric company, comes from programming the units

with individual customer information, establishing the communication protocols

with electric company computer systems, and updating and maintaining the

systems that receive outage notifications.

Implementation Considerations

Automatic outage notification units must be connected to the electric company’s

computer systems. Thus, an electric power company must determine the

placement of these units when considering its overall system maintenance

planning and budgeting program.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Because of the electric company incurs significant expenses in installing and

maintaining these units, there are currently no areas where these units have been

deployed to serve a majority of electricity customers.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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 POINTS OF CONTACT

MUNICIPAL CONTACTS

Agency Address Phone

Arlington Heights

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

33 S. Arlington Heights Rd.

Arlington Heights 60005

Emergency (847) 253-2340

Non-emergency (847) 253-2340

Aurora

Emergency Management

Agency

350 N. River St.

Aurora 60506

Emergency (630) 801-6512

Non-emergency (630) 896-4714

Bartlett

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

228 S. Main St.

Bartlett 60103

Emergency (630) 837-7502

Non-emergency (630) 837-0846

Bedford Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

6701 S. Archer Ave.

Bedford Park 60501

Emergency (708) 458-3388

Non-emergency (708) 563-4513

Bellwood

Emergency Management

Agency

3200 Washington Blvd.

Bellwood 60104

Emergency (708) 547-3521

Non-emergency (708) 681-3424

Bridgeview

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

7500 S. Oketo Ave.

Bridgeview 60455

Emergency (708) 458-4994

Non-emergency (708) 791-6174

Brookfield

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

8820 Brookfield Ave.

Brookfield 60513

Emergency (708) 485-7344

Non-emergency (708) 485-0102

Buffalo Grove

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

50 Raupp Blvd.

Buffalo Grove 60089

Emergency (847) 459-5598

Non-emergency (847) 459-2570

Burbank

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

6530 W. 79th St.

Burbank 60459

Emergency (708) 599-9551

Non-emergency (708) 599-7766

Calumet City

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

204 Pulaski Rd.

Calumet City 60409

Emergency (847) 891-8189

Non-emergency (847) 891-8190

Chicago

Emergency

Preparedness Disaster

Services

558 W. DeKoven

Chicago 60607

Emergency (312) 744-4755

Non-emergency (312) 747-7247

Continued

This section contains a list of the important points of contact for electric

power disruption planning. The list of municipal contacts provides the

names, addresses, and telephone numbers for state-listed emergency

management agencies. The points of contact were compiled from

information available from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(Note: Some communities that might have emergency services or

management agencies are not listed with the state. If a community is not

listed here, check with local officials to identify a point of contact, if

available.)
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Agency Address Phone

Chicago Heights

Emergency Management

Agency

P.O. Box 117

1601 Chicago Rd.

Chicago Heights 60411

Emergency (708) 756-5377

Non-emergency (708) 756-5376

Crestwood

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

13241 W. Playfield Dr.

Crestwood 60445

Emergency (708) 389-5131

Non-emergency (708) 371-4800

Des Plaines

Emergency Management

Agency

1420 Miner St.

Des Plaines 60016

Emergency (847) 391-5396

Non-emergency (847) 647-7450

Dolton

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

14014 Park Ave.

Dolton 60419

Emergency (708) 841-2112

Non-emergency (708) 849-9000

Elgin

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

550 Summit

Elgin 60120

Emergency (847) 931-6010

Non-emergency (847) 931-6180

Elk Grove Village

Emergency Management

Agency

901 Brantwood

Elk Grove Village 60007

Emergency (847) 439-6709

Non-emergency (847) 734-8000

Elmhurst

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

209 N. York Rd.

Elmhurst 60126

Emergency (630) 530-3097

Non-emergency (630) 530-3000

Evanston

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

2100 Ridge Ave.

Evanston 60201

Emergency (847) 866-2999

Non-emergency (847) 866-2916

Franklin Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

10001 W. Addison St.

Franklin Park 60131

Emergency (847) 671-8270

Non-emergency (847) 678-2400

Glenview

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1815 Glenview Rd.

Glenview 60025

Emergency (847) 657-6773

Non-emergency (847) 724-2141

Hazel Crest

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

3000 W. 170th Pl.

Hazel Crest 60429

Emergency (708) 335-9672

Non-emergency (708) 335-9630

Hoffman Estates

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1900 Hassell Rd.

Hoffman Estates 60195

Emergency (847) 882-1818

Non-emergency (847) 882-2138

Hometown

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

4331 Southwest Hwy.

Hometown 60456

Emergency (708) 424-7517

Non-emergency (708) 424-7500

Joliet

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

150 W. Jefferson St.

Joliet 60432

Emergency (815) 436-7636

Non-emergency (815) 724-3702

LaGrange

Emergency Management

Agency

53 S. LaGrange Rd.

LaGrange 60525

Emergency (708) 579-2335

Non-emergency (708) 579-2318

LaGrange Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

115 Ann St.

Clarendon Hills 60514

Emergency (708) 352-2151

Non-emergency (630) 954-1142

Lemont

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

418 Main St.

Lemont 60439

Emergency (630) 257-6902

Non-emergency (630) 257-2229

Libertyville

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1551 N. Milwaukee Rd.

Libertyville 60048

Emergency (847) 362-5664

Non-emergency (847) 362-5664

Maine Township

Emergency Management

Agency

1700 Ballard Rd.

Park Ridge 60068

Emergency (847) 297-5911

Non-emergency (847) 297-2510

Markham

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

16222 S. Ashland

Markham 60426

Emergency (708) 331-4904

Non-emergency (708) 331-4905

1 ConGather
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Agency Address Phone

Morton Grove 

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

6101 Capulina

Morton Grove 60053

Emergency (847) 965-1502

Non-emergency (847) 729-2310

Mount Prospect

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

112 E.Northwest Hwy.

Mt. Prospect 60056

Emergency (847) 870-5652

Non-emergency (847) 870-5660

Naperville

Emergency Management

Agency

1380 Aurora Ave.

Naperville 60540

Emergency (630) 305-5997

Non-emergency (630) 420-6009

Niles

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

8360 Dempster St.

Niles 60714

Emergency (847) 647-2131

Non-emergency (847) 967-6104

North Aurora

Emergency Management

Agency

P.O. Box 209

North Aurora 60542

Emergency (630) 897-9698

Non-emergency (630) 897-0551

Northbrook

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

740 Dundee Rd.

Northbrook 60062

Emergency (847) 272-5050

Non-emergency (847) 272-2141

Oak Forest

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

15441 Alameda Ave.

Oak Forest 60452

Emergency (708) 687-0113

Non-emergency (708) 687-4050

Oak Lawn

Emergency Management

Agency

9446 S. Raymond Ave.

Oak Lawn 60453

Emergency (708) 499-7721

Non-emergency (708) 499-7059

Oak Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

100 N. Euclid

Oak Park 60301

Emergency (708) 358-2374

Non-emergency (708) 358-5610

Orland Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

14600 Ravinia Ave.

Orland Park 60462

Emergency (708) 403-6111

Non-emergency (708) 349-4111

Palatine

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

200 E. Wood St.

Palatine 60067

Emergency (847) 202-6666

Non-emergency (847) 358-7500

Park Ridge

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

901 W. Devon Ave.

Park Ridge 60068

Emergency (847) 318-5259

Non-emergency (847) 318-5259

Prospect Heights

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

14 E. Camp McDonald Rd.

Prospect Heights 60070

Emergency (847) 398-5511

Non-emergency (847) 398-5511

Rolling Meadows

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

2455 Plum Grove Rd.

Rolling Meadows 60008

Emergency (847) 397-2798

Non-emergency (847) 397-3352

Romeoville

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

27 Montrose Drive

Romeoville 60446

Emergency (815) 886-4085

Non-emergency (815) 886-4085

Schaumburg

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1601 N. Roselle Rd.

Schaumburg 60193

Emergency (847) 885-6300

Non-emergency (847) 885-6300

Skokie

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

7424 Niles Center Rd.

Skokie 60077

Emergency (847) 982-5300

Non-emergency (847) 982-5321

Streator

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

204 S. Bloomington St.

Streator 61364

Emergency (815) 672-6261

Non-emergency (815) 672-2682

Tinley Park

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

17355 S. 68th Ct.

Tinley Park 60477

Emergency (708) 532-1377

Non-emergency (847) 741-5901

Waukegan

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

420 Robert V. Sabonjian Pl.

Waukegan 60085

Emergency (847) 599-2600

Non-emergency (847) 599-2601

Continued
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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Agency Address Phone

Western Springs

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

740 Hillgrove Ave.

Western Springs 60558

Emergency (708) 246-1800

Non-emergency (708) 246-1800

Wilmette

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

710 Ridge Rd.

Wilmette 60091

Emergency (847) 256-1200

Non-emergency (847) 256-1200

COUNTY CONTACTS

Agency Address Phone

Cook County

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1311 S. Maybrook Dr.

Room 108

Maywood 60153 (708) 865-4766

DuPage County

Office of Emergency

Management

136 N. County Farm Rd.

Wheaton 60187

Emergency (630) 682-7207

Non-emergency (630) 682-7925

Kane County

Office of Emergency

Management

777 Fabyan Parkway

Geneva 60134

Emergency (630) 232-9186

Non-emergency (630) 232-5985

Lake County

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

1303 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Libertyville 60048

Emergency (847) 549-5200

Non-emergency (847) 549-5230

McHenry County

Emergency Services and

Disaster Agency

2200 N. Seminary Rd.

Woodstock 60098 (815) 338-6400

Will County

Office of Emergency

Management

302 N. Chicago St.

Joliet 60432

Emergency (815) 740-0911

Non-emergency (815) 740-8351

STATE CONTACTS

Agency Address Phone

Illinois Commerce Commission 527 E. Capitol Ave.

Springfield 62701 (217) 782-7295

Chicago Office (312) 814-2850

Des Plaines Office (847) 294-4326

Illinois Emergency Management

Agency, Central Office 110 E. Adams St.

Springfield 62701-1109 (217) 782-7860

Region 3 Officea 10105 N. LaSalle St.

Ottawa 61350-2018 (815) 433-3297

Region 4 Officeb 9511 W. Harrison St.

Des Plaines 60016-1563 (847) 294-4717

a

 Covering Kane, McHenry, and Will Counties, along with several other counties.

b

 Covering Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties.
Guidelines for Planning for Electric Power Disruptions

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FEDERAL CONTACTS

Agency Address Phone

U.S. Department of Energy

Emergency Operations Center

1000 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 25085 (202) 586-8100

Federal Emergency

Management Agency

Headquarters 500 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20472

(202) 646-2400

Region V Officea 536 S. Clark St., 6th Floor

Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 408-5500

Department of Transportation

Office of Pipeline Safety

Regional Office 901 Locust St., Suite 462

Kansas City, MO 64106-

2641

(816) 329-3800

Chicago District Office 10316 Floyd St.

Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-8586

National Communications

System, National Coordinating

Center for Telecommunications

701 S. Courthouse Rd.

Arlington, VA 22204 (703) 607-4900

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Headquarters

2120 L Street, NW

Washington, DC 20003

Emergency Operations

Center

(301) 816-5100

Region III Office 801 Warrenville Rd.

Lisle, IL 60532 (630) 829-9500

a

 Covering Illinois, among other Midwestern states.
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