PTI Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines - Metropolitan ...

Local Voices
Raleigh, North Carolina
The Raleigh, North Carolina energy assurance coordinator stated that it was easy getting city leaders
interested in participating in the city’s energy assurance working group. “Our leaders remember recent ice
storms and major hurricanes in the 1990s and how these emergencies impacted our energy supplies.
They want us to be prepared for the future.”
The coordinator was hired by the city’s Emergency Management Director. To keep his working group
and others engaged in their energy assurance planning efforts, he holds a short, weekly briefing and has
developed a web site dedicated to Raleigh’s energy assurance efforts. In addition, he regularly briefs the
Assistant City Manager, who is interested in energy assurance issues.
Lessons Learned
The coordinator stresses that it is important to script the energy assurance message very clearly and
to “keep it simple” and easy to understand while staying focused on the specific needs of each city
department. “If it isn’t related to the department, it isn’t relevant. Show them how the plan impacts them.”
The City of Portland, Oregon, created one energy assurance steering committee. Working under the steering
committee are four smaller “focus” subcommittees, including:
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Neighborhoods and small businesses
Environmental organizations and representatives
Industry, response agencies, and utilities
Economy and alternative fuels
Private sector expertise is helpful to most working groups, particularly when addressing electricity, gas, water, and
related utilities. It is important to include decision-makers, subject matter experts, or related personnel from relevant
utilities where and when appropriate. At a minimum, it is recommended to involve representatives from local gas
and electric utilities since they may have access to energy information and related resources to support local planning
efforts. Pipeline and storage facility operators may also be useful, as well as water and wastewater treatment utility
representatives. It is recommended that planners start by contacting the Office of Government Affairs within the
local utility or other energy supplier for a contact person if one is not already in place. It may be worthwhile as well
to seek assistance from other partners in the jurisdiction or region to see what utility contacts they have already
developed.
It is recommended that planners brief these individuals on their planning efforts and include them as soon as
possible in the development of the EAP. If it is not possible to include utility representatives on the working group,
outside experts can also be brought in, when appropriate, to brief the working group. It is important to open a clear
line of communication with utility officials as soon as possible, because they possess expertise regarding energy
infrastructure and planning in the case of an energy emergency. The working group will want to be aware of utility
response and restoration plans to the degree possible, since this information is useful to the planning efforts.
34 | 3 – How to Develop or Enhance a Local Energy Assurance Plan