Reliability
On May 4, 2004, the PUC approved regulations to tighten reliability standards and
reporting requirements for electric utilities. The new standards are geared toward
ensuring that electric utility performance with regard to the number and duration
of power outages does not decline and toward making it easier for regulators to
spot areas where service may be slipping.
Under the new rules, large electric companies will have to stay within 10 percent
of a PUC-established benchmark for a rolling three-year period and within 20 percent
of the benchmark during a rolling 12-month period. Four smaller electric companies
– UGI, Citizens’, Pike County and Wellsboro – also must stay within
10 percent of their benchmark for a rolling three-year period, but will be allowed
to go up to 35 percent of the benchmark for the rolling 12-month period.
Benchmarks are the Commission’s goals for each utility on the number and duration
of outages. Reliability is considered reasonable when the numbers fall between the
benchmark and the percentage standards described above.
Electric Reliability Standards (52 Pa. Code §§ 57.191-57.197)
On May 22, 2008, the Commission approved final regulations, at Docket No. L-00040167,
to require electric distribution companies to biennially file plans explaining their
plans for inspection, maintenance, replacement, and repair of their facilities that
are designed to meet their reliability performance benchmarks and standards.
For more information, use the Search for Public Documents feature at docket numbers
M-00991220, L-00040167 and L-00030161.
Special Reliability Meeting
Meeting Notice and
Agenda
The PUC will hold a Special Electric Reliability Forum on
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, to hear from the state’s electric
utilities whose distribution systems were affected by Hurricane
Irene.
The hearing is an offshoot of the PUC’s annual summer and winter
reliability assessment meetings which are held in advance of the
summer cooling and winter heating seasons. The forum will be
held from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in Hearing Room 1. Press Release
Forum Audio
1:30 - 2:40 PM: Audio Clip - 2:45 to 4:45 PM: Audio Clip
Presentations
Winter Reliability Meeting
Meeting Notice and Agenda
The meeting announcement and agenda for the Winter Reliability Meeting on Thursday,
November 9, 2011 at 1:30 PM in Hearing Room 1 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building
in Harrisburg.
2011 Presentations
Summer Reliability Meeting
Meeting Notice and
Agenda
The meeting announcement and agenda for the Summer Reliability Meeting on Thursday,
June 9, 2011 at 1:30 PM in Hearing Room 1 at the Commonwealth Keystone Building
in Harrisburg. Press Release
2011 Presentations
Service Outage Response and Restoration Practices Proposed Rulemaking Order
Comments on the Proposed Rulemaking Order with respect to Service Outage Response and Restoration Practices, at Docket No. L-2009-2104274, and also in the matter of the Commission's Proposed Policy Statement with respect to Utility Service Outage Notification Guidelines at Docket No. M-2008-2065532, can be found on the Consumer Education page.
Proposed Rulemaking - Neutral Connection Inspection & Maintenance Standards
Neutral Connection
ANOPR Order - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR)
for Revision of 52 Pa. Code Chapter 57 pertaining to adding Neutral Connection Inspection
and Maintenance Standards for the EDCs. From the public meeting of July 17, 2008.
Docket No. L-2008-2044821.
Neutral Connection Comments
Docket No. L-2008-2044821
Neutral Connection Reply Comments
Docket No. L-2008-2044821
Inspection and Maintenance Standards
On May 22, 2008, the Commission approved final regulations, at Docket No. L-00040167, to require EDCs to biennially file plans setting forth their plans for the periodic inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of their facilities that are designed to meet their reliability benchmarks and standards. The regulations address vegetation management and inspection cycles for poles, overhead distribution lines, transformers, reclosers, substations and other critical system components.
Inspection and Maintenance Standards - Link to the Pa Code.
Electric Service Reliability Reports
The Commission publishes an annual report discusses the reliability performance of EDCs operating under the Commission’s jurisdiction within the Commonwealth. Although the reliability of the bulk transmission system is integral to the overall reliability of electric service, this report focuses on the reliability of the electric distribution system.
The data contained in this report was obtained from the quarterly and annual reliability reports submitted by the EDCs pursuant to the Commission’s regulations. These annual reports provide an assessment of electric service reliability for each EDC’s service territory.
Reports - Link to the Electric Reports page where the Electric Service Reliability Reports reside.
Electric Power Outlook
Each public utility which produces, generates, distributes, or furnishes electricity must annually submit to the Commission information concerning its future plans to meet its customers’ demands. The law requires the Commission to prepare a report summarizing and discussing the data provided on or before September 1, and submit the report to the General Assembly, the Governor, the Office of Consumer Advocate and each affected public utility. In compliance with the requirements of the public utility law, the Commission adopted regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 57.141—57.154.
Annual Resource Planning Report Regulations - Link to the Pa Code.
Electric Power Outlook
Reports - The information contained in these reports includes a brief description of the existing generation, transmission and distribution system for each EDC, highlights of the past year, information on EDCs’ projections of peak load and a discussion of historical trends in electric utility forecasting. The reports were prepared by the
PUC’s Energy Planning Section.
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