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Decision Number 17-12-024

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Original Version

Rule 18

 

18      Reporting and Resolution of Safety Hazards Discovered by Utilities

         

A.   Resolution of Safety Hazards And General Order 95 Nonconformances

(1)        a) Each company (including utilities and CIPs) is responsible for taking appropriate corrective action to remedy Safety Hazards and GO 95 nonconformances posed by its facilities.

 

b) Upon completion of the corrective action, the company’s records shall show, with sufficient detail, the nature of the work, the date, and the identity of persons performing the work. These records shall be preserved by the company for at least ten (10) years and shall be made available to Commission staff upon 30 days notice.

 

c) Where a communications company’s or an electric utility’s actions result in GO nonconformances for another entity, that entity’s remedial action will be to transmit a single documented notice of identified nonconformances to the communications company or electric utility for compliance.

 

(2)        a)  All companies shall establish an auditable maintenance program for their facilities and lines. All companies must include a timeline for corrective actions to be taken following the identification of a Safety Hazard or nonconformances with General Order 95 on the company’s facilities.

 

The auditable maintenance program shall prioritize corrective actions consistent with the priority levels set forth below and based on the following factors, as appropriate:

 

·       Safety and reliability as specified in the priority levels below;

·       Type of facility or equipment;

·       Location, including whether the Safety Hazard or nonconformance is located in an Extreme or Very High Fire Threat Zone in Southern California;

·       Accessibility;

·       Climate;

·       Direct or potential impact on operations, customers, electrical company workers, communications workers, and the general public.

 

There shall be 3 priority levels.

 

(i)          Level 1:

·       Immediate safety and/or reliability risk with high probability for significant impact.

·       Take action immediately, either by fully repairing the condition, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority.

(ii)         Level 2:

·       Variable (non-immediate high to low) safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action to correct within specified time period (fully repair, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority).

 

Time period for correction to be determined at the time of identification by a qualified company representative but not to exceed: (1) 12 months for nonconformances that compromise worker safety, (2) 12 months for nonconformances that create a fire risk and are located in an Extreme or Very High Fire Threat Zone in Southern California, and (3) 59 months for all other Level 2 nonconformances.

(iii)        Level 3:

·       Acceptable safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action (re-inspect, re-evaluate, or repair) as appropriate.

 

b)  Correction times may be extended under reasonable circumstances, such as:

·       Third party refusal

·       Customer issue

·       No access

·       Permits required

·       System emergencies (e.g. fires, severe weather conditions)

(3)        Companies that have existing General Order 165 auditable inspection and maintenance programs that are consistent with the purpose of Rule 18A shall continue to follow their General Order 165 programs.

 

Strikeout and Underline Version

Rule 18

 

 

18      Reporting and Resolution of Safety Hazards Discovered by Utilities

 

            For purposes of this rule, “Safety Hazard” means a condition that poses a significant threat to human life or property.

 

A.   Resolution of Safety Hazards And General Order 95 Nonconformances

(1)        a) Each company (including utilities and CIPs) is responsible for taking appropriate corrective action to remedy Safety Hazards and GO 95 nonconformances posed by its facilities.

 

b) Upon completion of the corrective action, the company’s records shall show, with sufficient detail, the nature of the work, the date, and the identity of persons performing the work. These records shall be preserved by the company for at least ten (10) years and shall be made available to Commission staff upon 30 days notice.

 

c) Where a communications company’s or an electric utility’s actions result in GO nonconformances for another entity, that entity’s remedial action will be to transmit a single documented notice of identified nonconformances to the communications company or electric utility for compliance.

 

(2)        a)  All companies shall establish an auditable maintenance program for their facilities and lines. All companies must include a timeline for corrective actions to be taken following the identification of a Safety Hazard or nonconformances with General Order 95 on the company’s facilities.

 

The auditable maintenance program shall prioritize corrective actions consistent with the priority levels set forth below and based on the following factors, as appropriate:

 

·       Safety and reliability as specified in the priority levels below;

·       Type of facility or equipment;

·       Location, including whether the Safety Hazard or nonconformance is located in an Extreme or Very High Fire Threat Zone in Southern California the High Fire-Threat District;

·       Accessibility;

·       Climate;

·       Direct or potential impact on operations, customers, electrical company workers, communications workers, and the general public.

 

There shall be 3 priority levels.

 

(i)          Level 1:

·       Immediate safety and/or reliability risk with high probability for significant impact.

·       Take action immediately, either by fully repairing the condition, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority.

(ii)         Level 2:

·       Variable (non-immediate high to low) safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action to correct within specified time period (fully repair, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority).

 

Time period for correction to be determined at the time of identification by a qualified company representative, but not to exceed: (1) six months for nonconformances that create a fire risk located in Tier 3 of the High Fire-Threat District; (2) 12 months for nonconformances that create a fire risk located in Tier 2 of the High Fire-Threat District; (3) 12 months for nonconformances that compromise worker safety; and (4) 59 months for all other Level 2 nonconformances. (1)(3) 12 months for nonconformances that compromise worker safety;, (2) 12 months for nonconformances that create a fire risk and are located in an Extreme or Very High Fire Threat Zone in Southern California, and (3)(4) 59 months for all other Level 2 nonconformances.

(iii)        Level 3:

·       Acceptable safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action (re-inspect, re-evaluate, or repair) as appropriate.

 

b)  Correction times may be extended under reasonable circumstances, such as:

·       Third party refusal

·       Customer issue

·       No access

·       Permits required

·       System emergencies (e.g. fires, severe weather conditions)

(3)        Companies that have existing General Order 165 auditable inspection and maintenance programs that are consistent with the purpose of Rule 18A shall continue to follow their General Order 165 programs.

 

Final Version

Rule 18

 

18      Reporting and Resolution of Safety Hazards Discovered by Utilities

 

            For purposes of this rule, “Safety Hazard” means a condition that poses a significant threat to human life or property.

 

A.   Resolution of Safety Hazards And General Order 95 Nonconformances

(1)        a) Each company (including utilities and CIPs) is responsible for taking appropriate corrective action to remedy Safety Hazards and GO 95 nonconformances posed by its facilities.

 

b) Upon completion of the corrective action, the company’s records shall show, with sufficient detail, the nature of the work, the date, and the identity of persons performing the work. These records shall be preserved by the company for at least ten (10) years and shall be made available to Commission staff upon 30 days notice.

 

c) Where a communications company’s or an electric utility’s actions result in GO nonconformances for another entity, that entity’s remedial action will be to transmit a single documented notice of identified nonconformances to the communications company or electric utility for compliance.

 

(2)        a)  All companies shall establish an auditable maintenance program for their facilities and lines. All companies must include a timeline for corrective actions to be taken following the identification of a Safety Hazard or nonconformances with General Order 95 on the company’s facilities.

 

The auditable maintenance program shall prioritize corrective actions consistent with the priority levels set forth below and based on the following factors, as appropriate:

 

·       Safety and reliability as specified in the priority levels below;

·       Type of facility or equipment;

·       Location, including whether the Safety Hazard or nonconformance is located in the High Fire-Threat District;

·       Accessibility;

·       Climate;

·       Direct or potential impact on operations, customers, electrical company workers, communications workers, and the general public.

 

There shall be 3 priority levels.

 

(i)          Level 1:

·       Immediate safety and/or reliability risk with high probability for significant impact.

·       Take action immediately, either by fully repairing the condition, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority.

(ii)         Level 2:

·       Variable (non-immediate high to low) safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action to correct within specified time period (fully repair, or by temporarily repairing and reclassifying the condition to a lower priority).

 

Time period for correction to be determined at the time of identification by a qualified company representative, but not to exceed: (1) six months for nonconformances that create a fire risk located in Tier 3 of the High Fire-Threat District; (2) 12 months for nonconformances that create a fire risk located in Tier 2 of the High Fire-Threat District; (3) 12 months for nonconformances that compromise worker safety; and (4) 59 months for all other Level 2 nonconformances.

(iii)        Level 3:

·       Acceptable safety and/or reliability risk.

·       Take action (re-inspect, re-evaluate, or repair) as appropriate.

 

b)  Correction times may be extended under reasonable circumstances, such as:

·       Third party refusal

·       Customer issue

·       No access

·       Permits required

·       System emergencies (e.g. fires, severe weather conditions)

(3)        Companies that have existing General Order 165 auditable inspection and maintenance programs that are consistent with the purpose of Rule 18A shall continue to follow their General Order 165 programs.