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The Energy Emergency Response Plan is structured in four "phases" of increasing activity during an energy emergency:
The Energy Commission staff activities for each phase intensify depending on the severity of the emergency. If appropriate, it is possible to implement any phase without going through intervening phases.
Readiness Phase
The Energy Commission's Energy Emergency Planning staff remains in the Readiness Phase under normal operating conditions. In the Readiness Phase, the staff:
- Monitors international and domestic events.
- Attends periodic exercises to establish and test emergency protocols.
- Trains appropriate Energy Commission staff.
- Updates and maintains a network of public and private sector contacts.
- Prepares Internal Advisory Reports as needed.
Verification Phase
The Verification Phase may be activated if the Energy Commission determines that an energy emergency has occurred or may shortly occur. During this phase, the Energy Emergency Planning staff will:
- Rapidly determine the nature, extent, and duration of a potential, impending, or actual energy emergency.
- Coordinate energy emergency response activities with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, other appropriate state agencies, the U.S. Department of Energy, other state governments, local government agencies, and private industry.
- Provide a detailed Situation Report that assesses the potential or actual impacts of the emergency on energy prices and supplies.
- If required, use the informal petroleum fuels set-aside program to ensure that emergency and essential services receive adequate supplies of fuel.
- Recommend further actions (if any) to the Energy Commission's Chairman.
Pre-Emergency Phase
If the Energy Commission determines the existence of a protracted or growing energy problem, the Pre-Emergency Phase may be activated. This phase is characterized by an increased level of government activity as the energy problem worsens. During this phase, the Energy Emergency Planning staff will:
- Continue to coordinate energy emergency response activities with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, other appropriate state agencies, the U.S. Department of Energy, other state governments, local government agencies, and private industry.
- Continue to provide periodic Situation Reports that describe the nature of the energy emergency, the potential or actual impacts on energy prices and supplies, and the expected duration of the event.
- If required, continue to use the informal petroleum fuels set-aside program to ensure that emergency and essential services receive adequate supplies of fuel.
- Recommend to the Chairman appropriate voluntary demand reduction measures that may be used to mitigate the impacts of the energy emergency.
Emergency Phase
If the problem becomes more severe, the Chairman may activate the Emergency Phase. This phase involves all activities initiated during the Pre-Emergency Phase, along with additional voluntary or mandatory programs that may be required.
To impose mandatory programs, the Governor must first issue the Proclamation of a State of Emergency and file an Emergency Order with the Office of the Secretary of State. The Emergency Order takes effect immediately upon filing All mandatory programs automatically terminate when the Governor rescinds the emergency proclamation.
During this phase, the Energy Emergency Planning staff continues to coordinate response activities, prepare situation reports, and use the informal fuels set-aside program as described in the Pre-emergency Phase. In addition, the staff will:
- If directed by management, activate the Energy Emergency Management Center (see Chapter 3 of the Energy Emergency Response Plan).
- If required, implement the formal Petroleum Fuels Set-Aside Program. Implementation of this program requires that the Governor sign Emergency Order #6, authorizing the Energy Commission to redirect fuel to emergency and essential services.
- Recommend to the Chairman appropriate mandatory demand reduction measures that may be used to reduce the impacts of the energy emergency.
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