Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

February 2004 Volume 6 - Number 1

Related Sites:

Mitigation...

Pepco Developing New Mitigation Strategies as a Result of Isabel

By Greg Licamele, EMSE 292

Pepco has started initiating new mitigation plans in response to its widely criticized handling of power outages in the wake of Tropical Storm Isabel, which wreaked havoc on the Washington area in September.

Pepco provides electricity to three area jurisdictions – the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. More than 75 percent of their customers (570,000) lost power during the storm, many for extended periods of time (Witt, January 2004).

In response to the storm damage and subsequent outcry from the public, Pepco hired James Lee Witt Associates to assess its emergency management efforts. Witt, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, produced a 177-page report, detailing Pepco’s problems and recommending ways to reduce the impact of another major storm. The report also called for Pepco to consider an all-hazards mitigation approach.

The utility met generally accepted industry standards during Isabel, but the consulting group provided three overriding themes in the report:

-- An insufficient appreciation on the part of Pepco that the outage was a community event, not just a utilities event;

--A need for a better focus on customer service in a disaster;

--A need for the emergency management function to have a higher priority (Witt, January 2004).

The analysis suggests new mitigation strategies, including more emergency drills, a new set of power restoration priorities, improved customer service and better coordination with public and emergency management officials (Mirabella, January 14, 2004).

In a press release issued by Pepco, the company claimed its internal review discovered many of the same issues that Witt Associates found. Pepco reports mitigation efforts currently underway include enhanced computer systems to handle high volumes of data in emergencies; an improved process for estimating restoration times; a revised procedure for handling downed wires; a community outreach program to establish restoration priorities; and programs to install new technology to improve reliability (Pepco Holdings, January 13, 2004). Pepco also has created a new position of vice president for emergency preparedness to coordinate the company’s response with local, state and federal agencies (Mirabella, January 14, 2004).

One major factor that caused the power outages during Isabel was downed trees (Witt, January 2004). In response, Pepco plans to mitigate future disasters (including wind, ice and terrorism...an all-hazards approach) by working with area governments and community associations to trim or remove trees that threaten power lines (Mirabella, January 14, 2004).

Beyond the immediate actions taken, Pepco cannot guarantee a timetable for longer-range projects such as new switching technologies to limit outages caused by downed wires. Pepco Holdings CEO Dennis Wraase said these measure might take five years to implement with no current funds available (Ford, January 16, 2004).

As the company works to improve its damaged image in the Washington area, the Witt report and the company agree that developing more reliable communication methods and public education efforts with its customers are top mitigation strategies.

List of References

James Lee Witt Associates. “Pepco Holdings, Inc., Hurricane Isabel Response Assessment.” January 2004. http://www.wittassociates.com/PHIReport.pdf.

Mirabella, Lorraine. “Pepco Moves to Thwart Future Isabels.” The Baltimore Sun, January 14, 2004. http://www.sunspot.net/business/bal-bz.pepco14jan14,0,3379154.story?coll=bal-business-headlines

Pepco Holdings, Inc. “Pepco and Conectiv See Witt Report as Blueprint For Positive Change in Enhancing Customer Service.” PR Newswire, January 13, 2004. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040113/dctu016_1.html