Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 65 - Water Service Utilities › Subchapter 9 - Records, Reports, and Filing Requirements › Section 165:65-9-2.1 - 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
				  water 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 Commission's CSD Director
				  and the Commission's Emergency Liaison. 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 water 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 water 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 water 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 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, may
				cause a high degree of public interest or concern, or which have a duration of
				four (4) hours or more and involve one percent (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.