SECTION 291.163. Emergency Operation of an Affected Utility as Defined in TWC §13.1394

(a) An affected utility shall adopt and submit to the executive director for approval an emergency preparedness plan that demonstrates the utility's ability to provide emergency operations and a timeline for implementing the plan.

(b) The executive director shall review an emergency preparedness plan submitted by an affected utility. If the executive director determines that the plan is not acceptable, the executive director shall request additional information or recommend changes to the plan. The executive director shall communicate to the affected utility the request for information or recommendations on or before the 90th day after the executive director receives the plan.

(c) An emergency preparedness plan shall include one or more of the following:

(1) the maintenance of automatically starting auxiliary generators;

(2) the sharing of auxiliary generator capacity with one or more affected utilities, including through participation in a statewide mutual aid program;

(3) the negotiation of leasing and contracting agreements, including emergency mutual aid agreements with other retail public utilities, exempt utilities, or providers or conveyors of potable or raw water service, if the agreements provide for coordination with the division of emergency management in the governor's office;

(4) the use of portable generators capable of serving multiple facilities equipped with quick-connect systems;

(5) the use of on-site electrical generation or distributed generation facilities;

(6) hardening the electric transmission and distribution system serving the water system;

(7) the maintenance of direct engine or right-angle drives;

(8) designation of the water system as a critical load facility or redundant, isolated, or dedicated electrical feeds;

(9) water storage capabilities;

(10) water supplies delivered from outside the service area of the affected utility;

(11) the ability to provide water through artesian flows;

(12) redundant interconnectivity between pressure zones;

(13) emergency water demand rules to maintain emergency operations; or

(14) any other alternative determined by the executive director to be acceptable.

(d) Each affected utility that supplies, provides, or conveys raw surface water to wholesale customers shall include in its emergency preparedness plan provisions for demonstrating the capability of each raw water intake pump station, pump station, and pressure facility necessary to provide water service to its wholesale customers. This subsection does not apply to raw water services that are unnecessary or otherwise subject to interruption or curtailment during emergencies under a contract.

(e) The affected utility may use the template in Appendix G1 of §290.47 of this title (relating to Appendices) to assist in preparation of the plan.

(f) An emergency generator used as part of an approved emergency preparedness plan must be inspected, operated, and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications and the requirements listed in §290.46(m)(8) of this title (relating to Minimum Acceptable Operating Practices for Public Drinking Water Systems).

(g) The executive director may grant a waiver of the requirements of this section to an affected utility if the executive director determines that compliance with this section will cause a significant financial burden on customers of the affected utility. The affected utility shall submit financial, managerial, and technical information as requested by the executive director to demonstrate the financial burden.

(h) An affected utility may adopt and is encouraged to enforce limitations on water use while the utility is providing emergency operations.

(i) Information provided by an affected utility under this section is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Texas Government Code, Chapter 552.

(j) Affected utilities, established after December 31, 2022, must have emergency preparedness plans approved and implemented prior to providing water to customers.

(k) If an affected utility fails to provide a minimum of 20 psi, or a water pressure approved by the commission, throughout the distribution system during emergency operations as soon as it is safe and practicable following the occurrence of a natural disaster, a revised emergency preparedness plan shall be submitted for review and approval within 180 days of the date normal power is restored. Based on the review of the revised emergency preparedness plan, the executive director may require additional or alternative auxiliary emergency facilities.

Source Note: The provisions of this §291.163 adopted to be effective December 21, 2023, 48 TexReg 7611