PTI Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines - Metropolitan ...

■ ■ Length of time before the occurrence of serious impacts: Critical facilities that might experience effects
from a supply disruption almost immediately may warrant rapid response.
■ ■ Nature of potential impacts: Critical facilities that involve potential public safety impacts may warrant a
more rapid response than those with only potential inconvenience impacts.
■ ■ Number and groups of people potentially affected: Critical facilities where a large number of people would
be affected may warrant a more rapid response than those where only a few would be affected. Also, critical
facilities that serve primarily seniors or children might require more rapid response than those that serve
primarily able-bodied adults.
Another important issue concerns the scale of the energy supply disruption. It is imperative to know the geographic
reach of any energy emergency. For example, if an electricity brownout is local only, it may relate only to the
distribution system, or even more specifically, to just one asset or building. If the brownout is regional or larger
in scope, it may involve electricity transmission and/or generation. In any case, the energy provider is going to
prioritize its response, in part, based on the scale and scope of the emergency. Local governments may be left to
resolve their own energy supply issues through backup generators, conservation, efficiency, or other energy resource
allocation methods. This in fact is what drives the need for a locally responsive EAP.
Most States prioritize restoration of energy supplies to key assets through utility outage and restoration rules or
through a critical user list which can inform their related discussions with energy providers. 39 States may take a
number of measures under emergency conditions to help mitigate the effects of supply disruptions on key assets and
other infrastructure, as governed by the legal authorities granted them. Such measures could include:
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Imposing restrictions on the hours during which commercial, industrial, public, and school buildings may be
open
Imposing restrictions on lighting levels in commercial, industrial, public, and school buildings
Imposing restrictions on interior temperature in commercial, industrial, public, and school buildings
Imposing restrictions on the use of display and decorative lighting
Requiring mandatory interruption of selected customers
Curtailing sales of electricity outside the utility service areas
Granting waivers to utilities that have generators operating at less than their technical limits due to
environmental or other restrictions
Starting up State-owned backup generators to provide additional capacity
Directing utilities to use pre-determined customer restoration priority lists to the degree the physical
distribution system permits
Other State actions can include coordinating with the U.S. EPA or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to
waive certain motor fuel or driver-hour requirements as a means of alleviating fuel supply shortages. (See Appendix
E, and also NASEO State Energy Assurance Guidelines for additional information).
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http://www.naseo.org/eaguidelines/State_Energy_Assurance_Guidelines_Version_3.1.pdf.
Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines – Version 2.0 | 61