Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 45 - Gas Service Utilities › Subchapter 9 - Records and Reports › Section 165:45-9-2.1 - Restoration of service

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
This Section establishes general parameters to ensure timely
				  communication to the Commission, of the utility's implementation of its
				  restoration of service plan, following an unplanned service interruption. Each
				  gas utility shall have a written restoration of service policy/plan, which
				  shall include a communication plan to be followed during unplanned or emergency
				  interruptions, with a current copy on file with the CSD Director and the
				  Commission's Emergency Liaison, and updated as changes occur. No later than
				  September 30 of each year, this policy shall be reviewed by the utility at
				  least annually and updated as deemed necessary and appropriate. A statement
				  detailing all changes from the previous edition shall be filed with the
				  Commission and included at the front of the policy on file. Each gas utility
				  shall provide and keep current, the phone number of any 24 hour emergency
				  operations center or a list with a minimum of two individuals with 24-hour
				  contact numbers, to the Commission's CSD Director and the Commission's
				  Emergency Liaison. The following items are guidelines to be addressed in the
				  policy:
(1) Assessment of the extent
				of the service interruption and what resources (equipment, materials, and
				labor) will be required to restore service. The utility should also attempt to
				determine the number of customers affected and the geographic extent of the
				service interruption.
(2)
				Determination as to whether or not the service restoration can be accomplished
				by use of in-house personnel only, or if contractors (personnel obtained from
				other utilities or third-party entities) will be required. The objective is to
				have service restored as soon as possible.
(3) Identification of priorities for service
				restoration, based upon emergency needs and upon ease of restoration for the
				greatest number of consumers for the least expenditure of money, time, and
				effort. Priority shall be given to any life-threatening situations known or
				discovered during restoration of service.
(4) Once gas service to installations
				affected with the interest of public health and safety has been restored (such
				as hospitals, fire and police departments and 911 centers), service shall be
				restored to schools as quickly as feasible, during such time of the year that
				school is in session.
(5) Attempted
				notification of high-priority customers or major gas consuming facilities who
				are affected by the service outage, when possible. Radio and/or television
				should be utilized to notify larger numbers of customers as to the type of
				service outage, extent of the service outage, and the expected time to restore
				service. Other means of notification may also be utilized, so long as the
				result is mass notification on an efficient, effective, and timely basis.
(6) Commission notification
				through the CSD Director and the Commission's Emergency Liaison to implement
				the process outlined in paragraphs A through C of this subsection. The
				Commission notification process to the designated Consumers Services Division
				individual(s) and the Commission's Emergency Liaison may be accomplished by one
				or more of the following methods: business telephone and/or e-mail address
				during the business hours of 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,
				or emergency cellular telephone number after normal business hours, weekends
				and holidays. The notification shall consist of the following:
(A) An initial contact to notify Staff of
				outages which involve a major utility substation or facility; or which, may
				cause a high degree of public interest or concern; or which have a duration of
				4 hours or more and involve 1% or fifty (50) customers or more, whichever is
				greater, of the utility's meter count.
(B) Intermediate contact to provide status
				reports, as deemed necessary by the utility, or as may be requested by
				Commission Staff.
(C) A conclusory
				contact detailing the results and completion of the restoration of service plan
				implementation.