1. (a) A utility shall notify the department in the event of accidents and significant events involving or potentially involving the utility’s facilities, operations, works, or systems in accordance with subparts (c) – (f), except during wide scale emergencies as required by this rule.

2. (b) The department shall provide a protocol roster to the utilities updated as necessary which:

   1. (1) Lists department representatives with their after work hours telephone contact numbers, email addresses, and text contact information; and
   2. (2) Lists the general department telephone number.
3. (c) A utility shall notify the department by telephone, automated telephone notification, or electronic means as soon as possible, but no later than 2 hours after becoming aware of an outage event that interrupts service to more than 2,000 customers for more than 5 minutes.

4. (d) The notification shall include:

   1. (1) The name of the utility;
   2. (2) The name of the person initiating the notification and a telephone number for call back;
   3. (3) A brief description of the event location;
   4. (4) Estimated number of customers affected; and
   5. (5) Estimated duration of outage or service restoration time.
5. (e) Notification shall be to all department representatives on the protocol roster, described in (b) above through automated telephone notification, email, or text.

6. (f) A utility shall notify the department by telephone as soon as possible, but no later than 2 hours after becoming aware of an accident or event that:

   1. (1) Results in serious injury requiring inpatient hospitalization, or a fatality;
   2. (2) Involves an automobile accident or any other event, whether caused intentionally or not, that results in a degradation of operations or safety that affects 500 customers or more with an expected duration in excess of 12 hours;
   3. (3) Involves a breach of security or threat against the utility’s facilities addressed in section En 306.10;
   4. (4) Involves aircraft, trains, or commercial boats;
   5. (5) Results in closure of a state highway; or
   6. (6) Is not covered in this section but has been reported publicly via major commercial news outlets.

7. (g) When an accident or event occurs as described in (f) above, the utility shall notify the department as follows:

   1. (1) Attempt to contact the appropriate department representative listed on the protocol roster, described in (b) above, either at the department telephone number during regular department hours or at the after-hours number outside of regular department hours;
   2. (2) Proceed sequentially through the roster attempting to contact a department representative;

   3. (3) If a utility is unable to reach a department representative after following En 306.06(g)(2) above, the utility shall notify the department as follows:

      1. a. Call the department general telephone listing, provided in the protocol roster, and leave a voice mail message:

         1. 1. Identifying the utility and the name and return telephone number of the individual attempting to report; and
         2. 2. Stating that an accident or event requiring notification has occurred and will be reported when the department next opens; and
      2. b. As soon as possible during regular department hours, contact the appropriate department representative listed on the protocol roster, described in (b) above, and proceed sequentially through the roster; and

   4. (4) When the utility is first able to speak to a department representative listed on the protocol roster as required by this section, the utility shall notify the representative of the following:

      1. a. The name of the utility;
      2. b. The name of the person making the report and the telephone number at which they can be called back;
      3. c. A brief description of the accident or event and location;
      4. d. A description of any known fatalities, personal injuries, and damage;
      5. e. Any other known information relevant to the cause of the accident or event and the extent of the damage; and

      6. f. The time at which:

         1. 1. The accident of event occurred; and
         2. 2. The utility was first notified or the accident or event.

8. (h) Each utility shall report in writing any accident or event requiring notification pursuant to (f) above, by completing and submitting to the department and commission:

   1. (1) Form E-5E, within 5 business days of notification of the accident or event; and
   2. (2) A more detailed written report, referencing the original Form E-5E report number, containing any additional supportive documentation not provided in the original Form E-5E report, within 15 days of the accident.
9. (i) When a utility files a report in accordance with En 306.06(h)(2) and the accident or event involves a utility’s pole or anchors located within the public way, the utility shall include in its report whether the poles or anchors were licensed and whether the poles or anchors were properly located according to that license.
10. (j) When a utility files a report in accordance with En 306.06(h)(2) and death occurs as a direct result of the reported accident, as known to the utility, the utility shall include this fact in such report.

Source. #14101, eff 10-22-24, EXPIRES: 10-22-34 (see Revision Note at chapter heading for En 300)