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For Immediate Release: 03/20/2025 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080 25037/24-E-0665 March 20, 2025
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PSC Approves Electric Utility Emergency Response Plans |
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Decision Standardizes Utility Process Regarding Life Support Equipment Customer Certification ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the Electric Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) for the state’s major electric utility companies. The Commission also directed each electric utility to file its approved plan with the county executive, the chief elected official of a county for each county within its service territory, or the emergency management office of the City of New York as required.
“Throughout 2024, as part of utility performance reviews following significant storms and other events impacting the utilities’ infrastructure and/or customers, the utilities’ preparedness and response actions were compared with procedures within the emergency response plans,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The amended emergency response plans we are approving today are the result of multiple review cycles and reflect compliance with best practices identified via joint utility collaboration and previous Commission directives.”
Annually, each investor-owned electric utility in New York — Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, National Grid, Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc., along with PSEG LI — is required to review, update, and file a detailed ERP, documenting the essential processes and procedures needed to prepare and respond to a wide array of outage events.
Department of Public Service staff performed a detailed review of each utility's ERP to verify that they comply with requirements to address operational guidelines as well as proper communication with customers, emergency management and government officials. The Commission has reviewed the utilities' amended filings and has determined that the changes made to the ERPs are satisfactory. The approved 2025 ERPs continue to maintain the practices and procedures required to respond safely and effectively to emergency electric outages.
With its action today, the Commission directed each electric utility to file its approved plan with the county executive, or the chief elected official of a county, for each county within its service territory, or the emergency management office of the City of New York.
This year’s annual review reflects the following updates to the ERPs:
During certain outage events requiring the electric utilities to provide additional communications and information to Department staff, the companies submit documentation of their current status at predetermined intervals throughout the duration of the event. These reports, formerly known as the Electric Outage Reporting System (EORS) 4-hour reports, have been standardized and renamed the PSC 4-hour situation report. All references to the former reports in each respective electric utility ERP has been updated to refer to the current title. Additionally, extraneous documents and appendices have been removed from the ERPs to continue to enhance the operational aspect of the plans.
Utility ERPs have now incorporated an upgraded tool used by Department staff to track and report electric outages and incidents statewide. This application, referred to as the Utility Events Dashboard (UED), is a replacement for both the Electric Outage Reporting System (EORS) and the Electric Incident Reporting System (EIRS), which the UED tool consolidates and improves upon. All references to the two former systems have been updated to refer to the Utility Events Dashboard.
The process for the utilities to submit documentation attesting to and/or providing evidence of the completion of certain annual or semi-annual required activities, such as Life Support Equipment Customer Certification, Outage Management System (OMS) Testing, and Annual Exercise Performance, have been standardized. Today’s order presents a clear process in which the utilities are expected to provide this information to the Department.
OMS testing ensures the utilities’ outage management system can perform its function during large-scale outage events via a simulated environment. The requirements for OMS Stress Testing have been standardized so that the utilities are required to test the same minimum set of functions and utilize consistent actions following the results of each test. The ERPs now reflect this consistent standard.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 24-E-0665 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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