Or. Admin. R. 860-300-0050 - Communication Requirements Prior, During, and After a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

(1) When a Public Utility determines that a PSPS is likely to occur, it must deliver notification of the PSPS to its Public Safety Partners, operators of utility-identified critical facilities, and adjacent local Public Safety Partners.

(a) To the extent practicable, the Public Utility must provide priority notification directly to Public Safety Partners, operators of utility-identified critical facilities, and adjacent local Public Safety Partners.

(b) In notifying Public Safety Partners and utility-identified critical facilitates of PSPS events, including adjacent local Public Safety Partners, the utility will communicate the following information, at a minimum:

(A) The PSPS zone, which would include Geographic Information System shapefile(s) depicting current boundaries of the area subject to de-energization;

(B) Date and time PSPS will be executed;

(C) Estimated duration of PSPS;

(D) Number of customers impacted by PSPS;

(E) When feasible, the Public Utility will support Local Emergency Management efforts to send out emergency alerts;

(F) At a minimum, status updates at 24-hour intervals until service has been restored;

(G) Notice of when re-energization efforts will begin and when re-energization is expected to be complete; and

(H) Information provided under this rule does not preclude the Public Utility from providing additional information about execution of the PSPS to its Public Safety Partners.

(c) In notifying utility-identified critical facilities, the Public Utility will communicate the following information, at a minimum:

(A) Date and time PSPS will be executed;

(B) Estimated duration of PSPS;

(C) At a minimum, status updates at 24-hour intervals until service has been restored;

(D) Notice of when re-energization efforts will begin and when re-energization is expected to be complete; and

(E) In addition to the above requirements, utilities will also provide Geographical Information Files with as much specificity as possible to Operators of Communications facilities in the area of the anticipated PSPS.

(d) ESF-12 will notify Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) partners and Local Emergency Management in coordination with Oregon's Office of Emergency Management.

(2) When a Public Utility determines that a PSPS is likely to occur, the Public Utility must provide advance notice of the PSPS to customers via a PSPS web-based interface on the Public Utility's website and other media platforms, and may communicate PSPS information directly with customers consistent with this rule.

(a) In providing notice to customers about a PSPS, the Public Utility will, at a minimum:

(A) Utilize multiple media platforms to maximize customer outreach, including but not limited to, social media, radio, television, and press releases;

(B) Consider the geographic and cultural demographics of affected areas, including but not limited to broadband access, languages prevalent within the utility's service territories, considerations for those who are vision or hearing impaired; and

(C) Display on its website homepage a prominent link to access current information about the PSPS, consistent with OAR 860-300-0060, including a depiction of the boundary. The PSPS information must be easily readable and accessible from mobile devices.

(b) The Public Utility may directly notify its customers through email communication or telephonic notification (e.g., text messaging and phone calls) when it will not impede Local Emergency Management alerts due to capacity limitations. If the Public Utility provides direct notification, the Public Utility will communicate the following information, at a minimum:

(A) A statement of impending PSPS execution, including an explanation of what a PSPS is and the risks that the PSPS would be mitigating;

(B) Date and time PSPS will be executed;

(C) Estimated duration of PSPS;

(D) A 24-hour means of contact customers may use to ask questions or seek information;

(E) How to access details about the PSPS via the Public Utility's website, including education and outreach materials disseminated in advance of the annual wildfire season;

(F) After initial notification, the Public Utility will provide, at a minimum, status updates at 24-hour intervals until the conditions prompting the PSPS have ended; and

(G) Notice of when re-energization efforts will begin and when re-energization is expected to be complete.

(3) To the extent possible, the Public Utility will adhere to the following minimum notification prioritization and timeline in advance of a PSPS:

(a) 48-72 hours in advance of anticipated de-energization, priority notification to Public Safety Partners, operators of utility-identified critical facilities, and adjacent local Public Safety Partners;

(b) 24-48 hours in advance of anticipated de-energization, when safe: secondary notification to all other affected customers; and

(c) 1-4 hours in advance of anticipated de-energization, if possible: notification to all affected customers.

(4) The Public Utility's communications required under this rule do not replace emergency alerts initiated by local emergency response.

(5) Nothing in this rule prohibits the Public Utility from providing additional information about execution of the PSPS to Public Safety Partners, utility-identified critical facilities, or customers.

Notes

Or. Admin. R. 860-300-0050

PUC 4-2022, adopt filed 05/24/2022, effective 5/24/2022

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, ORS 756 & ORS 757

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 756.040 & ORS 757.035