PTI Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines - Metropolitan ...

Local Voices
Portland, Oregon
“The Portland Office of Emergency Management is the lead agency managing the Portland Local Energy
Assurance Plan. Portland is subject to hazards that could compromise our basic functions if our critical
infrastructure is not managed and maintained and if our community is not fully aware of their part in
protecting the critical energy infrastructure. To minimize damage from potential hazards many disciplines
need to identify what they are currently doing to manage use of energy, the risks to their services due
to lack of energy, and their plans for restoration of services after a disaster. Through the Local Energy
Assurance Planning process, Portland committee members will determine what assets are important, how
they will mitigate the impact of hazards on their assets, how they will coordinate response and recovery of
the city, and what the impact of an energy outage would be on the economy and environment.”
Many local government energy assurance working groups also involve non-governmental organization (NGO)
experts in their plan development process. For example, an NGO that works with special needs and disabled
populations is an important asset when discussions involve the transportation of these individuals to safe locations
during energy and other emergencies.
Key Questions
…in Establishing an Energy Assurance Working Group
1. Does the working group candidate bring needed expertise to the group?
2. Can the candidate speak on behalf of his or her agency or company and obtain access to
relevant operational information?
3. Does the candidate have the time to attend working group meetings?
4. Will the candidate actively contribute to the working group?
5. Can the candidate bring additional resources to the working group?
6. Is the candidate likely to stay on the working group through the end of the energy assurance
planning process?
7. Is the candidate likely to educate and interest others in local energy assurance efforts over the
life of the project and beyond?
8. Does the candidate have experience participating in other similar working groups?
9. Are candidates likely to collaborate and work together?
3.2.3 Build Personnel Redundancy into the Planning Framework
Energy assurance planning can be a multi-year process, and some working group members are likely to be replaced
along the way. New job opportunities, retirement, changes in responsibilities, reductions in force, and organizational
restructuring will inevitably occur during most energy assurance planning processes. It is necessary to be prepared
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