Standard 1.

Emergency Response Plan

A.

Internal Coordination

The plan shall describe the utility’s internal coordination function, including how the utility will  gather, process, and disseminate information within the service area, set priorities, allocate resources and coordinate activities to restore service.  The utility will coordinate internal activities in an emergency operations center or use some other arrangement suitable for the purposes of internal coordination.

B.

ISO/TO Coordination

The plan shall provide for utility coordination with the ISO, including gathering, processing and disseminating information from the ISO, and providing information regarding how the utility will establish priorities and estimates of service restoration.  A utility that does not deal directly with the ISO shall describe how it will coordinate its efforts with the TO.

C.

Media Coordination

The plan shall address the utility’s provision of timely and complete information available to the media before, during and immediately after a major outage.  Such information shall include estimated restoration times and a description of potential safety hazards if they exist.

D.

External and Government Coordination  

The plan shall address the utility’s efforts to coordinate emergency activities with appropriate state and local government agencies.  The utility shall maintain lists of contacts at each agency which shall be included in the plan and readily accessible to employees responsible for coordinating emergency communications.  The utilities may address the use by governmental agencies of California’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

E.

Safety Considerations

The plan shall describe how the utility will assure the safety of the public and utility employees and the utility’s procedures for safety standby.  The plan shall include contingency measures regarding the resources required to respond to an increased number of reports concerning unsafe conditions.

F.

Damage Assessment

The plan shall describe the process for assessing damage and, where appropriate, the use of contingency resources required to expedite a response to the emergency.  The plan will generally describe how the utility will set priorities, facilitate communication, and restore service.

G.

Restoration Priority Guidelines

The plan shall include guidelines for setting priorities for service restoration.  In general, the utility shall set priorities so that service is restored first to critical and essential customers, and so that the largest number of customers receive service in the shortest amount of time.

H.

Mutual Assistance

The plan shall describe how the utility intends to employ resources available pursuant to mutual assistance agreements for emergency response.  Mutual assistance shall be requested when local resources are inadequate to assure timely restoration of service or public safety.  Mutual assistance need not be requested if it would not substantially improve restoration times or mitigate safety hazards.  The plan shall recognize the need to communicate mutual assistance activities with the State Office of Emergency Services, through the UOC/OES Utility Branch, during an emergency.

I.

Plan Update

The plan shall be updated annually to incorporate changes in procedures, conditions, law or Commission policy.  The utility shall submit plan updates as part of the annual report required by Standard 11.