Majority of grid operators have or are developing pandemic response plans

Responding to a North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Level 2 alert, the electricity industry demonstrated this month that the majority of grid operators either have a written pandemic response plan in place to deal with COVID-19 or are working on one.

While all involved recognize this is a unique event for the nation, as well as its bulk power system operators, they appear to be moving fast to course correct, including the review of supply chains to develop ways of responding to potential equipment shortages. At this point, the majority of registered entities have reviewed pandemic staffing requirements, identified risks — such as staffing shortages, material shortages, and the ability to complete major projects and maintenance — and indicated they would support mutual aid requests.

“The good news during this public health emergency is the fact that industry is prepared and has done its due diligence toward contingency planning in order to keep the lights on,” NERC President and CEO Jim Robb said. “Industry has come together to protect the health and well-being of their workforce while still being focused on providing customers with the electricity they rely on. Importantly, the majority responded that they will be able to support mutual aid, a key consideration as we move into the spring and summer storm season.”

Utilities did identify that there could be some constraints over the summer resulting from the staffing and material shortages.

Still, with proper planning, these effects may be mitigated. NERC continues to conduct weekly situational awareness calls with North American reliability coordinators and is working on a more comprehensive analysis of potential reliability risks and the unusual operating conditions caused by the ongoing pandemic. That assessment should be released in April and will include lessons learned from system operators around the world.