Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 2 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS › Chapter 26 - SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS › Subchapter C - INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELIABILITY › Section 26.51 - Reliability of Operations of Telecommunications Providers

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Application. Unless the context clearly
				  indicates otherwise, in this section the term "utility," insofar as it relates
				  to telecommunications utilities, shall refer to local exchange companies that
				  are facilities-based providers, as defined in §
										RSA 26.5
				  of this title (relating to Definitions). This section does not apply to a
				  deregulated company holding a certificate of operating authority or to an
				  exempt carrier under Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) §52.154. This
				  section also does not apply to the retail services of an electing company, as
				  defined by PURA §58.002, or to the retail nonbasic services offered by a
				  transitioning company, as defined by PURA §65.002.
(b) Emergency Operations Plan. Each utility
				  shall file with the commission a copy of its emergency operations plan or a
				  comprehensive summary of its emergency operations plan by May 1, 2008.
(1) Filing requirements. The filing shall
				  include an affidavit from the utility's operations officer indicating that all
				  relevant operating personnel within the utility are familiar with the contents
				  of the emergency operations plan; and such personnel are committed to following
				  the plans and the provisions contained therein in the event of a system-wide or
				  local emergency that arises from natural or manmade disasters, except to the
				  extent deviations are appropriate under the circumstances during the course of
				  an emergency. To the extent the utility makes changes in its emergency
				  operations plan, the utility shall file the revised plan or a revision to the
				  comprehensive summary that appropriately addresses the changes to the plan no
				  later than 30 days after such changes take effect.
(2) Information to be included in the
				  emergency operations plan. Each emergency operations plan maintained by a
				  utility shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) A communications plan that describes the
				  procedures for contacting the media, customers, and service users as soon as
				  reasonably possible either before or at the onset of an emergency. The
				  communications plan should also:
(i) address
				  how the utility's telephone system and complaint-handling procedures will be
				  augmented during an emergency;
(ii)
				  identify key personnel and equipment that will be required to implement the
				  plan when an emergency occurs;
(B) priorities for restoration of
				  service;
(C) a plan for disaster
				  recovery and continuity of operations;
(D) a plan to provide continuous and adequate
				  service during a pandemic; and
(E)
				  a hurricane plan, including evacuation and re-entry procedures (for a utility
				  providing service within a hurricane evacuation zone, as defined by the
				  Governor's Division of Emergency Management).
(3) Drills. Each utility is required to train
				  its operating personnel in the proper procedures for implementing its emergency
				  plan. Each utility shall conduct or participate in an annual drill to test its
				  emergency procedures unless it has implemented its emergency procedures in
				  response to an actual event within the last 12 months. If a utility is in a
				  hurricane evacuation zone (as defined by the Governor's Division of Emergency
				  Management), this drill shall also test its hurricane plan/storm recovery plan.
				  The commission should be notified no later than 21 days prior to the date of
				  the drill. Following the annual drill, the utility shall assess the
				  effectiveness of the drill and modify it emergency operations plan as
				  needed.
(4) Emergency contact
				  information. Each utility shall submit emergency contact information in a form
				  prescribed by commission staff by May 1 of each calendar year. Notification to
				  commission staff regarding changes to the emergency contact list shall be made
				  within 30 days. This information will be used to contact utilities prior to and
				  during an emergency event.
(5)
				  Reporting requirements. Upon request by the commission staff during a SOC
				  inquiry or declared emergency event, affected utilities shall provide updates
				  on the status of operations, outages and restoration efforts. Updates shall
				  continue until all event-related outages are restored or unless otherwise
				  notified by commission staff.
(6)
				  Copy available for inspection. A complete copy of the above plans shall be made
				  available at the utility's main office for inspection by the commission or
				  commission staff upon request.