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January 26, 2006
TO: The Chair of Each State Commission
FROM: Commissioner Karen Smith
Chair, NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) Committee on Critical Infrastructure
RE: Pandemic Planning by Utilities
Dear Colleagues,
In the wake of terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, NARUC created the Ad Hoc Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee to examine potential recommendations to the States in regard to national security and emergency preparedness measures. One topic recently explored by the Committee concerns pandemic planning.
At NARUC?s recent meeting in Indian Wells, California, the Critical Infrastructure Committee passed a resolution titled Resolution for State Commissions? Action Relative to Pandemic Preparedness. A copy of that resolution is attached.
This is a critical element of planning that can be easily overlooked. Utilities need to prepare for pandemics as part of their continuity of operations planning discussions. When a pandemic occurs, it will cause severe economic and social disruption including travel bans; school, government and business closings; cancellations of major events and significant worker absenteeism. Water, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications services will play a critical role in effectively responding to a pandemic. Plans to respond to health and bioterrorism hazards have been developed by companies for continuity of operations as part of State and federal initiatives supporting the Bioterrorism Act of 2001.
The attached resolution encourages State commissions to immediately engage all utilities to assure that part of their current plan ensures that critical personnel receive inoculation on a priority basis. The resolution also suggests such plans be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, be robust in assuring staffing for critical functions through cross training, permit modification of operation to enhance telecommuting or remote dispersal of personnel to minimize disease transmission, and be responsive to the potential of travel restrictions affecting the general movement of subject populations.
Because my Committee believes such planning is an essential part of national safety, we sponsored the attached resolution, which passed without opposition at our last meeting.
All of the literature on pandemics suggest that it is not a matter of if, but rather when the next one occurs. Since timing is unknown, I urge you to immediately include pandemic considerations in your discussions with regulated utilities in all sectors.
If you have any questions about this resolution, or if there is any other way I can be of assistance in providing background - or discussing the actions of my own commission - please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karen Smith
Chair, NARUC Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure
Commissioner, Maryland Public Service Commission
================================================
Resolution for State Commissions? Action Relative to Pandemic Preparedness
WHEREAS, A Pandemic is a global disease outbreak caused by a virus for which there is little or no immunity in the human population that causes serious illness and then spreads person-to-person worldwide and many scientists believe it is only a matter of time until the next pandemic occurs; and
WHEREAS, During the 20th century there were 3 pandemics: the 1918 influenza pandemic caused at least 500,000 U.S. deaths and up to 40 million deaths worldwide; the 1957 influenza pandemic caused at least 70,000 U.S. deaths and 1-2 million deaths worldwide; and the 1968 influenza pandemic caused about 34,000 U.S. deaths and 700,000 deaths worldwide; and
WHEREAS, When a pandemic emerges, its global spread is considered inevitable and although measures such as border closures and travel restrictions may delay the arrival of the virus but cannot stop it; and
WHEREAS, When a pandemic occurs a substantial percentage of the world's population will require some form of medical care and medical systems throughout the world will be severely depleted in the attempt to provide antiviral drugs, equipment, hospital beds and medical assistance to the number of people who have contracted this disease; and
WHEREAS, A pandemic will cause severe economic and social disruption including travel bans, school, government and business closings, cancellations of major events and significant worker absenteeism; and
WHEREAS, Water, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications services will play a critical role in effectively responding to a potential pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Plans to respond to health and bioterrorism hazards have been developed by companies for continuity of operations as part of State and federal initiatives supporting the Bioterrorism Act of 2001; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), convened in its November 2005 Annual Convention in Indian Wells, California, encourages State commissions to initiate dialogue no later than first quarter 2006 and/or continue current communication with their regulated companies about their continuity of operations planning including ensuring that critical personnel receive inoculation on a priority basis as they relate to a potential pandemic; and be it further
RESOLVED, That such plans be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, be robust in assuring staffing for critical functions through cross training, permit modification of operation to enhance telecommuting or remote dispersal of personnel to minimize disease transmission, and be responsive to the potential of travel restrictions affecting the general movement of the population. ______________________________________
Sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure
Recommended by the NARUC Board of Directors November 15, 2005
Adopted by the NARUC November 16, 2005 <!-- / message -->
January 26, 2006
TO: The Chair of Each State Commission
FROM: Commissioner Karen Smith
Chair, NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) Committee on Critical Infrastructure
RE: Pandemic Planning by Utilities
Dear Colleagues,
In the wake of terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, NARUC created the Ad Hoc Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee to examine potential recommendations to the States in regard to national security and emergency preparedness measures. One topic recently explored by the Committee concerns pandemic planning.
At NARUC?s recent meeting in Indian Wells, California, the Critical Infrastructure Committee passed a resolution titled Resolution for State Commissions? Action Relative to Pandemic Preparedness. A copy of that resolution is attached.
This is a critical element of planning that can be easily overlooked. Utilities need to prepare for pandemics as part of their continuity of operations planning discussions. When a pandemic occurs, it will cause severe economic and social disruption including travel bans; school, government and business closings; cancellations of major events and significant worker absenteeism. Water, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications services will play a critical role in effectively responding to a pandemic. Plans to respond to health and bioterrorism hazards have been developed by companies for continuity of operations as part of State and federal initiatives supporting the Bioterrorism Act of 2001.
The attached resolution encourages State commissions to immediately engage all utilities to assure that part of their current plan ensures that critical personnel receive inoculation on a priority basis. The resolution also suggests such plans be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, be robust in assuring staffing for critical functions through cross training, permit modification of operation to enhance telecommuting or remote dispersal of personnel to minimize disease transmission, and be responsive to the potential of travel restrictions affecting the general movement of subject populations.
Because my Committee believes such planning is an essential part of national safety, we sponsored the attached resolution, which passed without opposition at our last meeting.
All of the literature on pandemics suggest that it is not a matter of if, but rather when the next one occurs. Since timing is unknown, I urge you to immediately include pandemic considerations in your discussions with regulated utilities in all sectors.
If you have any questions about this resolution, or if there is any other way I can be of assistance in providing background - or discussing the actions of my own commission - please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karen Smith
Chair, NARUC Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure
Commissioner, Maryland Public Service Commission
================================================
Resolution for State Commissions? Action Relative to Pandemic Preparedness
WHEREAS, A Pandemic is a global disease outbreak caused by a virus for which there is little or no immunity in the human population that causes serious illness and then spreads person-to-person worldwide and many scientists believe it is only a matter of time until the next pandemic occurs; and
WHEREAS, During the 20th century there were 3 pandemics: the 1918 influenza pandemic caused at least 500,000 U.S. deaths and up to 40 million deaths worldwide; the 1957 influenza pandemic caused at least 70,000 U.S. deaths and 1-2 million deaths worldwide; and the 1968 influenza pandemic caused about 34,000 U.S. deaths and 700,000 deaths worldwide; and
WHEREAS, When a pandemic emerges, its global spread is considered inevitable and although measures such as border closures and travel restrictions may delay the arrival of the virus but cannot stop it; and
WHEREAS, When a pandemic occurs a substantial percentage of the world's population will require some form of medical care and medical systems throughout the world will be severely depleted in the attempt to provide antiviral drugs, equipment, hospital beds and medical assistance to the number of people who have contracted this disease; and
WHEREAS, A pandemic will cause severe economic and social disruption including travel bans, school, government and business closings, cancellations of major events and significant worker absenteeism; and
WHEREAS, Water, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications services will play a critical role in effectively responding to a potential pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Plans to respond to health and bioterrorism hazards have been developed by companies for continuity of operations as part of State and federal initiatives supporting the Bioterrorism Act of 2001; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), convened in its November 2005 Annual Convention in Indian Wells, California, encourages State commissions to initiate dialogue no later than first quarter 2006 and/or continue current communication with their regulated companies about their continuity of operations planning including ensuring that critical personnel receive inoculation on a priority basis as they relate to a potential pandemic; and be it further
RESOLVED, That such plans be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, be robust in assuring staffing for critical functions through cross training, permit modification of operation to enhance telecommuting or remote dispersal of personnel to minimize disease transmission, and be responsive to the potential of travel restrictions affecting the general movement of the population. ______________________________________
Sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee on Critical Infrastructure
Recommended by the NARUC Board of Directors November 15, 2005
Adopted by the NARUC November 16, 2005 <!-- / message -->