The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Related Links

Discussion

July 8, 2008

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0> PSC: Utility can improve disaster plan <font color="#ff0000"> w/ Missouri PSC Empire District storm preparedness & restoration report </font>

By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

Members of the Missouri Public Service Commission staff have laid out 25 recommendations for Empire District Electric Co. on how it could have responded better during the historic December 2007 ice storm and how it can help prevent a similar situation to the one that left 65,000 of the local utility’s customers without power for as long as a week.

Many of those recommendations centered on better communication, with the media, its customers, other organizations and even within the company itself. The recently released report also recommends Empire revise its vegetation-management policies and infrastructure standards.

The report was the result of a PSC investigation that started in January and looked into four utility companies, Empire, Ameren, Aquila and Kansas City Power & Light, and their responses to the ice storm. The investigation was prompted by the geographic scope of the damage and the length of time people were without power.

The report concluded that all four utilities did have storm-restoration plans in place and executed them, but all could improve the response.

The PSC received more than 100 public comments during and after the storm regarding Empire’s efforts to restore power.

Empire was not alone in its areas of improvement. Kevin Kelly, PSC spokesman, said improved communication was a need shared by all the utilities. New PSC rules on tree-trimming, infrastructure inspection and service reliability will also go into effect later this summer and could address some of the other problems common to all the utilities examined.

In conjunction with the PSC investigation, Empire conducted its own investigation into its response. Amy Bass, Empire spokeswoman, said Monday she was not surprised by the PSC report’s findings or recommendations, and that Empire is reviewing the document, but is not ready to make any statement about the report or to implement the recommendations.

In its self-analysis included in the PSC’s report, Empire reported that there was significant failure of newer poles, cross arms and wires during the storm because of the weight of the ice. Empire noted the system was just not built to support that amount of weight.

Empire’s analysis said the call center used all available employees as well as volunteers during the ice storm, but was still not able to keep up with the volume of calls. Empire also said its telephone company, AT&T;, was having issues at that time that exacerbated the problem. In future incidents, Empire said it will use more messaging capabilities with its customers.

Empire did state in its analysis that recovery time probably would have been reduced if the company had achieved the complete cycle of its tree-trimming policy.

In addition, Bass said Empire has already taken action on several items identified in its internal review, including the addition of the Outage Center on its Web site www.empiredistrict.com.

Kelly said Empire and the other utilities have until Aug. 15 to file a response to the PSC staff’s findings. After that, he said, the decision for implementation will go back to the commission to decide.





Round-table

discussion

The Missouri Public Service Commission is scheduling a storm-restoration round-table in the fall for utilities involved in the December 2007 ice storm to discuss different experiences and approaches to that emergency, and develop a collection of best practices that can be used in future situations.

Source: Missouri Public Service Commission

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011