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| Easements & Electrical
Facilities.
UTILITY BOARD SEEKS ASSISTANCE FROM CITY OVER EASEMENTS
The Utility Board approved a resolution commending the City of Key West for their support of Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) electrical reliability efforts and requesting direction on the placement of upgraded electrical facilities that are currently in inaccessible locations at their regular meeting on Wednesday, February 28th.
As a result of two active hurricane seasons, the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) has recognized how customers have been adversely impacted from storm damaged electrical facilities. While KEYS customers have been extremely fortunate with post-storm restorations, the FPSC developed and passed orders requiring utilities to test the integrity of their electrical infrastructures and to “Storm Harden” their system for new and replacement facilities.
In addition to hardening the system, KEYS and other local utilities have been dealing with the issue of facilities in public right-of-ways (ROWs) and easements where customer structures, pools, fences, and vegetation have made these facilities inaccessible for utilities to perform safe and efficient operations.
Six-months ago the City formed a committee with local utilities including Bell South, Comcast, and KEYS, to research the impacts of such build-up in ROWs and easements to each agency. Approximately 615 utility poles are currently in rear locations, of which 425 are inaccessible to local utilities.
In order for KEYS to conform to FPSC orders, the Board passed a resolution to seek solutions from the City and provide direction on the placement of upgraded electrical facilities in inaccessible locations.
The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday February 28th, in the
Louis Carbonell Board Room of the William Arnold Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.
RESOLUTION #748 - A RESOLUTION BY THE UTILITY BOARD OF THE CITY OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE CITY OF KEY WEST'S STAFF AND COMMISSION ON THEIR SUPPORT OF KEYS ENERGY SERVICES' RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS, AND REQUESTING THE CITY OF KEY WEST TO PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THE PLACEMENT OF UPGRADED ELECTRICAL FACILITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN INACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS
WHEREAS, the Utility Board of the City of Key West, d/b/a Keys Energy Services is the utility that provides electrical service in Key West and the Lower Florida Keys, and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services has a distribution reliability record that is superior to municipal and investor-owned utilities in Florida with customers experiencing on average 10 percent fewer distribution outage minutes than other municipal utilities in the state, and is committed to further improving electrical reliability to all its customers, and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services and its customers have experienced an increase in storm related damage to their electrical facilities and outages as a result of the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, and
WHEREAS, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other weather experts predict the trend of hurricane impact to Florida will remain high over the next decade, and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services is working on measures relating to the "Storm Hardening" of its electrical system for new and rebuilt facilities to withstand 150 MPH winds, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) passed Order #25-06.0342 which specifically, “require the cost-effective strengthening of critical electric infrastructure to increase the ability of transmission and distribution facilities to withstand extreme weather conditions; and reduce restoration costs and outage times to end-use customers associated with extreme weather conditions,” and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services and BellSouth have approximately 10,200 wood poles between Key West and the Seven Mile Bridge and plan on replacing approximately 3,000 of these poles with new, stronger and larger concrete poles, and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services has construction contracts in place for replacement of these 3,000 wood poles over the next four (4) years, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Public Service Commission also passed Order #25-6.0341 specifically stating, “in order to facilitate safe and efficient access for installation and maintenance, to extent feasible and cost-effective, electric distribution facilities shall be placed adjacent to a public road, normally in front of the customer’s premises,” and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services and BellSouth have identified 615 wood poles in Key West that are in the rear of customers' properties with 425 of those poles inaccessible due to being occupied with customers’ structures, pools, fences, and vegetation, and
WHEREAS these obstructions in easements and rights-of-ways have created accessibility issues making it difficult for Keys Energy Services, BellSouth and Comcast to perform safe maintenance and replacement of such poles, and
WHEREAS, the City of Key West has formed a committee comprised of staff from the City, BellSouth, Comcast and Keys Energy Services to research the impacts of such obstructions to each agency and the customers, and
WHEREAS, Keys Energy Services appreciates the City of Key West's staff and Commission for addressing this issue, in order for Keys Energy Services to continue its commitment to improving electrical services to customers of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE UTILITY BOARD OF THE CITY OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA, that:
The Utility Board of the City of Key West, Florida commends the City of Key West's staff and Commission for their support of Keys Energy Services' reliability improvement efforts; and requests the City of Key West City Commission to provide direction on the placement of upgraded electrical facilities that are currently located in inaccessible locations.
The Utility Board respectfully seeks solutions from the City of Key West and is open to any ideas from the City of Key West including but not limited to:
1 - The City of Key West restoring accessibility to city owned right-of- ways and easements that are inaccessible, in order for Keys Energy Services and BellSouth to safely replace and reliably maintain its electrical facilities recognizing that such clean up may create considerable disruption to existing customer facilities and expense to the customer, as well as, the City of Key West
2 - The City of Key West assisting Key Energy Services in the relocation of new facilities to accessible locations recognizing that such a move will create an expense to Keys Energy Services and, in many instances, to the customer who may have to move their electrical facilities.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Utility Board of the City of Key West, Florida at its regular meeting on this 28th day of February, 2007.
FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RULING #25-6.0342 ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE STORM HARDENING
(1) Application and Scope. This rule is intended to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, and reliable electric transmission and distribution service for operational as well as emergency purposes; require the cost-effective strengthening of critical electric infrastructure to increase the ability of transmission and distribution facilities to withstand extreme weather conditions; and reduce restoration costs and outage times to end-use customers associated with extreme weather conditions. This rule applies to all investor-owned electric utilities.
(2) Storm Hardening Plans. Each utility shall, no later than 90 days after the effective date of this rule, file with the Commission for its approval a detailed storm hardening plan. Each utility’s plan shall be updated every 3 years, unless the Commission, on its own motion or on petition by a substantially affected person or utility, initiates a proceeding to review and, if appropriate, modify the plans. In a proceeding to approve a utility’s plan, the Commission shall consider whether the utility’s plan meets the desired objectives of enhancing reliability and reducing restoration costs and outage times in a prudent, practical, and cost-effective manner to the affected parties.
(3) Contents of Plan: Each utility storm hardening plan shall contain a detailed description of the construction standards, policies, practices, and procedures employed to enhance the reliability of overhead and underground electrical transmission and distribution facilities in conformance with the provisions of this rule. Each filing shall, at a minimum, address the extent to which the utility’s storm hardening plan:
(a) Complies, at a minimum, with the National Electric Safety Code (ANSI C-2) [NESC] that is applicable pursuant to subsection 25-6.034(2), F.A.C.
(b) Adopts the extreme wind loading standards specified by Figure 250-2(d) of the 2007 edition of the NESC for the following distribution facilities:
1. New construction;
2. Major planned work, including expansion, rebuild, or relocation of existing facilities, assigned on or after the effective date of this rule; and
3. Critical infrastructure facilities and along major thoroughfares taking into account political and geographical boundaries and other applicable operational considerations.
(c) Is designed to mitigate damage to underground and supporting overhead transmission and distribution facilities due to flooding and storm surges.
(d) Provides for the placement of new and replacement distribution facilities so as to facilitate safe and efficient access for installation and maintenance pursuant to Rule 25- 6.0341, F.A.C.
(4) Deployment Strategy: Each utility storm hardening plan shall explain the systematic approach the utility will follow to achieve the desired objectives of enhancing reliability and reducing restoration costs and outage times associated with extreme weather events. The utility’s storm hardening plan shall provide a detailed description of its deployment strategy including, but not limited to the following:
(a) A description of the facilities affected; including technical design specifications, construction standards, and construction methodologies employed.
(b) The communities and areas within the utility’s service area where the electric infrastructure improvements, including facilities identified by the utility as critical infrastructure and along major thoroughfares pursuant to subparagraph (3)(b)3. are to be made.
(c) The extent to which the electric infrastructure improvements involve joint use facilities on which third-party attachments exist.
(d) An estimate of the costs and benefits to the utility of making the electric infrastructure improvements, including the effect on reducing storm restoration costs and customer outages.
(e) An estimate of the costs and benefits, obtained pursuant to subsection (6) below, to third-party attachers affected by the electric infrastructure improvements, including the effect on reducing storm restoration costs and customer outages realized by the third-party attachers.
(5) Attachment Standards and Procedures: As part of its storm hardening plan, each utility shall maintain written safety, reliability, pole loading capacity, and engineering standards and procedures for attachments by others to the utility’s electric transmission and distribution poles (Attachment Standards and Procedures). The Attachment Standards and Procedures shall meet or exceed the edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI C-2) that is applicable pursuant to Rule 25-6.0345, F.A.C. so as to assure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that third-party facilities attached to electric transmission and distribution poles do not impair electric safety, adequacy, or pole reliability; do not exceed pole loading capacity; and are constructed, installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with generally accepted engineering practices for the utility’s service territory.
(6) Input from Third-Party Attachers: In establishing its storm hardening plan and Attachment Standards and Procedures, or when updating or modifying such plan or Attachment Standards and Procedures, each utility shall seek input from and attempt in good faith to accommodate concerns raised by other entities with existing agreements to share the use of its electric facilities. Any third-party attacher that wishes to provide input under this subsection shall provide the utility contact information for the person designated to receive communications from the utility.
(7) Dispute Resolution: Any dispute or challenge to a utility’s storm hardening plan, construction standards, deployment strategy, Attachment Standards and Procedures, or any projects implementing any of the above by a customer, applicant for service, or attaching entity shall be resolved by the Commission.
(8) Nothing in this rule is intended to conflict with Title 47, United States Code, Section 224, relating to Federal Communications Commission jurisdiction over pole attachments.
Specific Authority 350.127(2), 366.05(1) FS. Law Implemented 366.04(2)(c), (5), (6), 366.05(1) FS. History–New 2-1-07.
FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RULIING #25-6.0341 LOCATION OF THE UTILITY'S ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES
(1) In order to facilitate safe and efficient access for installation and maintenance, to the extent feasible and cost-effective, electric distribution facilities shall be placed adjacent to a public road, normally in front of the customer’s premises.
(2) For initial installation, expansion, rebuild, or relocation of overhead facilities, utilities shall use easements, public streets, roads and highways along which the utility has the legal right to occupy, and public lands and private property across which rights-of-way and easements have been provided by the applicant for service.
(3) For initial installation, expansion, rebuild, or relocation of underground facilities, the utility shall require the applicant for service to provide easements along the front edge of the property, unless the utility determines there is an operational, economic, or reliability benefit to use another location.
(4) For conversions of existing overhead facilities to underground facilities, the utility shall, if the applicant for service is a local government that provides all necessary permits and meets the utility’s legal, financial, and operational requirements, place facilities in road rights-of-way in lieu of requiring easements.
(5) Where the expansion, rebuild, or relocation of electric distribution facilities affects existing third-party attachments or the facilities of existing joint users, and will result in the relocation of such facilities to a new location adjacent to a public road, the utility shall notify and attempt in good faith to accommodate concerns raised by third-party attachers and joint users, including input and concerns related to the cost impacts of the proposed relocation on attaching entities. The electric utility shall also, to the extent practical, coordinate the construction of its facilities with the affected third-party attachers and joint users.
(6) Any dispute or challenge related to the implementation of this rule by a customer, applicant for service, or attaching entity shall be resolved by the Commission.
Specific Authority 350.127(2), 366.05(1) FS. Law Implemented 366.04(2)(c), (5), (6), 366.05(1) FS. History–New 2-1-07.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION VISIT: http://www.psc.state.fl.us/
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