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COVID-19 Response – Power Marketing Administrations (2020 Transition): Difference between revisions

COVID-19 Response – Power Marketing Administrations (2020 Transition) (view source)

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{{TB 2020 Book 2}}
{{TB 2020 Book 2}}


The '''pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)''', caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has played a defining role in 2020. With COVID-19 came new challenges to the energy sector, '''including the Department of Energy’s (DOE) four Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs)''': Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The PMAs have coordinated with both DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) and industry partners to ensure the successful and safe continuation of operation of their respective electric systems while operating within the COVID-19 environment.  
The '''pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)''', caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has played a defining role in 2020. With COVID-19 came new challenges to the energy sector, '''including the Department of Energy’s (DOE) four Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs)''':
 
* [[Bonneville Power Administration]] (BPA)
* [[Southeastern Power Administration]] (SEPA)
* [[Southwestern Power Administration]] (SWPA)
* [[Western Area Power Administration]] (WAPA)
 
The PMAs have coordinated with both DOE’s [[Office of Electricity]] (OE) and industry partners to ensure the successful and safe continuation of operation of their respective electric systems while operating within the COVID-19 environment.


==Summary==
==Summary==


BPA, SEPA, SWPA, and WAPA quickly responded to the national emergency<sup>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/#:~:text=1601%20et%20seq.),%2C%20beginning%20March%201%2C%202020 1]</sup> associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, having coordinated with both DOE and electric utility industry partners, and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
BPA, SEPA, SWPA, and WAPA quickly responded to the national emergency<ref>Declared by the President on March 13, 2020. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-COVID-19-outbreak/#:~:text=1601%20et%20seq.)%2C%20beginning%20March%201%2C%202020.</ref> associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, having coordinated with both DOE and electric utility industry partners, and in accordance with guidelines provided by the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC); the [[Office of Management and Budget]] (OMB); and the [[Office of Personnel Management]] (OPM).


The PMAs continue to actively participate in electric utility industry and Government working groups and task forces to adopt the best applicable processes and practices in dealing with COVID-19. Thus far, these processes and practices have allowed for continued reliable operation of the Nation’s electric power system.
The PMAs continue to actively participate in electric utility industry and Government working groups and task forces to adopt the best applicable processes and practices in dealing with COVID-19. Thus far, these processes and practices have allowed for continued reliable operation of the Nation’s electric power system.
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*Implemented home-to-work transportation for field workers, greatly reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure from coworkers.  
*Implemented home-to-work transportation for field workers, greatly reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure from coworkers.  
*Planned resiliency and continuity options around the sequestration of certain essential personnel (e.g., control center employees) at control centers or other facilities in order to decrease the risk of infection.
*Planned resiliency and continuity options around the sequestration of certain essential personnel (e.g., control center employees) at control centers or other facilities in order to decrease the risk of infection.


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*Increased information systems functionality and security to maximize telework capabilities using remote access and collaboration tools for all telework-capable employees.
*Increased information systems functionality and security to maximize telework capabilities using remote access and collaboration tools for all telework-capable employees.
*Established new safety procedures for personnel who operate and maintain the transmission system—such as electric power transmission system dispatchers, maintenance employees, and hydro and transmission schedulers—and whose operation and maintenance of the transmission system required reporting to their normal worksites.
*Established new safety procedures for personnel who operate and maintain the transmission system—such as electric power transmission system dispatchers, maintenance employees, and hydro and transmission schedulers—and whose operation and maintenance of the transmission system required reporting to their normal worksites.
*Developed and instituted field crew safety procedures.
*Developed and instituted field crew safety procedures.
*Redesigned control centers to allow social distancing.
*Redesigned control centers to allow social distancing.


===Activated the Incident Command System (ICS)===
===Activated the Incident Command System (ICS)===


Activated the Incident Command System (ICS),<sup>[https://www.ready.gov/incident-management 2]</sup>which was enhanced by developing and implementing dashboards that automate the retrieval and presentation of COVID-19-related data.
Activated the Incident Command System (ICS),<ref>For more on the ICS, see https://www.ready.gov/business/implementation/incident.</ref> which was enhanced by developing and implementing dashboards that automate the retrieval and presentation of COVID-19-related data.


===Closely coordinated with OE===
===Closely coordinated with OE===
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*SEPA—$50,000
*SEPA—$50,000
*SWPA—$550,000
*SWPA—$550,000
 
*WAPA—$2 million
*WAPA—$2 million  


'''To procure needed supplies''', such as personal protective equipment (PPE), the PMAs combined supplies provided by DOE and the National Stockpile with additional PMA-purchased supplies from external vendors. The PMAs fell under an OE-led ICS within the DOE hierarchy and received non-reimbursable PPE through:
'''To procure needed supplies''', such as personal protective equipment (PPE), the PMAs combined supplies provided by DOE and the National Stockpile with additional PMA-purchased supplies from external vendors. The PMAs fell under an OE-led ICS within the DOE hierarchy and received non-reimbursable PPE through:


*The Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER);
*The [[Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response]] (CESER);
 
*The [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA); and
*The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and
 
*Surplus from other DOE organizations (e.g., other offices).
*Surplus from other DOE organizations (e.g., other offices).


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*The Secretary’s authorization of home-to-work transportation usage expires March 26, 2021, and may require extension to maintain a safe work posture for those critical positions listed in the Secretary’s existing authorization.  
*The Secretary’s authorization of home-to-work transportation usage expires March 26, 2021, and may require extension to maintain a safe work posture for those critical positions listed in the Secretary’s existing authorization.  
*Individual PMAs still need the ability during national emergencies to provide meals to sequestered employees, as the sequestration of mission-essential employees may still be necessary in the future.
*Individual PMAs still need the ability during national emergencies to provide meals to sequestered employees, as the sequestration of mission-essential employees may still be necessary in the future.
 
*The PMAs could be impacted if wholesale power customers are unable to pay their bills due to “no shut-off” polices.
*The PMAs could be impacted if wholesale power customers are unable to pay their bills due to “no shut-off” polices.  
*Telework status will eventually change upon entry into new phases of crisis response and may require a change in management process.
 
*Telework status will eventually change upon entry into new phases of crisis response and may require a change in management process.  
 
*Management of social distancing by locality.
*Management of social distancing by locality.


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==References==
==References==
Footnotes:
1.    Declared by the President on March 13, 2020. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-COVID-19-outbreak/#:~:text=1601%20et%20seq.)%2C%20beginning%20March%201%2C%202020.
2.    For more on the ICS, see https://www.ready.gov/business/implementation/incident.
↑DOE. (2021). Transitions 2020: Issue Papers. US Department of Energy.
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[[Category:2020 Transition]]
[[Category:2020 Transition]]
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