rural-development · Rural Utilities Service · Rule · Published 2004-10-12 · Effective 2004-10-12 · 69 FR 60537
Document
Document number
04-22779
Federal Register citation
69 FR 60537
CFR reference
7 CFR 1730
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
rural-development
Sub-agency
Rural Utilities Service
Publication date
2004-10-12
Effective date
2004-10-12
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Programs, is amending its regulations on Electric System Operations and Maintenance to require electric program distribution, generation and transmission borrowers to expand a currently established Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP), or, if no ERP is currently established, to create an ERP. The ERP shall detail how the borrower will restore its system in the event of a system-wide outage resulting from a major natural or manmade disaster or other causes. The ERP shall include preventative measures and procedures for emergency recovery from physical and cyber attacks to the borrower's electric systems and core businesses, and shall also address Homeland Security concerns. This additional requirement is not entirely new to borrowers as RUS has recommended similar "plans" in the past. RUS Bulletin 1730-1, "Electric System Operation and Maintenance (O&M)," provides language addressing the security of RUS borrowers' electric systems.