Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 35 - Electric Utility Rules › Subchapter 19 - Consumer Data, Deposits, and Billing › Part 1 - CONSUMER RECORDS, INFORMATION, AND INTERRUPTIONS OF SERVICE › Section 165:35-19-4 - 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
					 electric utility shall have a written restoration of service policy/plan, which
					 shall include a telecommunication plan to be followed during unplanned or
					 emergency interruptions, with a current copy on file with the CSD Director. 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 electric
					 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 having
					 24-hour contact numbers, by September 30 of each year, to the CSD Director. 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 consumers 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 electricity 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 consumers or major electric consuming facilities
				  that are affected by the service outage, when possible. Radio and/or television
				  should be utilized to notify larger numbers of consumers 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 below. The Commission
				  notification process to the designated CSD 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) consumers
				  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 and CSD Staff.
(C) A
				  conclusory contact detailing the results and completion of the restoration of
				  service plan implementation.