NARUC launches task force on emergency preparedness

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has created a new task force focused on emergency preparedness, recovery, and resiliency.

The Presidential Task Force on Emergency Preparedness, Recovery and Resiliency was established in response to recent extreme weather events, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have raised the collective awareness of the need for protecting the reliability of energy systems and creating a more resilient infrastructure. The task force is comprised of NARUC members, stakeholders, and experts. The task force is charged with considering policy issues related to emergency preparedness, recovery, and resiliency.

The task force will conduct research and provide ongoing education on federal funding to support recovery; support NARUC member preparedness in the event of a Black Sky event; build consensus on construction standards for FEMA reference in recovery; and provide education on COVID-19 lessons learned and best practices for the path forward.

Arkansas Commissioner Kimberly O’Guinn will lead the task force. Sessions will convene via conference calls, webinars, and at each of NARUC’s three annual national meetings.

The task force will include a Special Subcommittee to study the COVID-19 pandemic response. Washington Commissioner Ann Rendahl will chair the subcommittee.

“As state regulators, we are uniquely aware of how these events affect our utilities, which includes electric, gas, water, and telecommunications companies,” NARUC President Brandon Presley said. “Anything that affects utilities affects the people and businesses in our communities. Establishing this task force and its special subcommittee will enable us to better identify and address a host of relevant issues.”

Along with O’Guinn, NARUC members on the task force members include Julie Brown (Florida), Gladys Brown-Dutrieuille (Pennsylvania), Diane X. Burman (New York), Jay Griffin (Hawaii), Odogwu Obi Linton (Maryland), Lillian Mateo-Santos (Puerto Rico), Charlotte Mitchell (North Carolina), Ellen Nowak (Wisconsin), Sadzi Oliva (Illinois), Dan Scripps (Michigan), Genevieve Shiroma (California), Eric Skrmetta (Louisiana) and Justin Williams (South Carolina). Presley will serve as an ex-officio member of the task force. Stakeholder participants will be announced soon.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the task force in our efforts to substantively address utility-related issues such as service reliability and disruptions during extended periods of sheltering in place, inadequate or nonexistent broadband service for distance learning, eligibility for federal funds, compliance matters, and more,” O’Guinn said.

The task force will publish policy papers, manuals, and reports with actionable policy recommendations for the future, along with a NARUC Emergency Preparedness, Recovery and Resiliency Manual, and other materials.