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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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4901:5 Division of Forecasting |
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Chapter4901:5-25. Gas Emergency |
4901:5-25-05. Actions taken upon declaration of energy emergency
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(A) Voluntary curtailment. Upon declaration of an energy emergency by the governor, the following provisions shall be applicable:
(1) Each gas supplier included within paragraphs (G)(4) to (G)(6) of rule 4901:5-25-01 of the Administrative Code:
(a) Shall contact its consumers and alert them to the declaration of an energy emergency and impending shortage of gas.
(b) Shall appeal to its consumers to reduce their consumption of gas on a voluntary basis. The appeals shall, where appropriate, include suggestions for achieving such reductions by all gas consumers.
(c) May initiate service restrictions, as set forth in rule 4901:5-25-06 of the Administrative Code.
(d) Shall provide its consumers information regarding:
(i) Actions the gas supplier will take to allocate the available gas supply.
(ii) The time period(s) during which any consumer or class of consumers is expected to be subject to curtailment, allocation, or other restriction of gas supply.
(iii) Procedures to be followed by consumers wishing to substantiate a claim for priority use.
(e) Shall report to the commission information that the commission determines necessary to manage the energy emergency.
(f) Shall make an oral report to the commission by telephone, twice weekly, at such time as it has an inadequate supply of gas for the foreseeable future. This report shall reflect the situation for the reporting supplier as of the previous day. Telephonic reports shall be made as prescribed by the commission.
(2) The commission may:
(a) Calculate the remaining gas supply for priority use in a reasonable manner.
(b) Provide information to suppliers and consumers regarding appropriate gas conservation measures.
(c) Provide public service announcements on television or other media, regarding the declaration of an energy emergency and the impending shortage of gas.
(d) Require, by order any gas supplier to:
(i) Reallocate and/or curtail gas supplies among its consumers.
(ii) Fulfill gas priority use requirements for its consumers.
(iii) Transfer gas supplies to other gas suppliers to fulfill gas priority use requirements of consumers of the recipient gas suppliers.
(iv) Monitor consumer compliance with mandatory emergency actions.
(B) Mandatory curtailment - stage one. During an energy emergency, at such time as the governor or the commission determines that it is appropriate, the following provisions shall be applicable in addition to the provisions set forth in paragraph (A) of this rule:
(1) All outdoor gas lighting, except for essential safety and security purposes, shall be prohibited.
(2) All interruptible gas service shall be curtailed.
(3) Gas usage for space heating purposes shall be restricted to maintaining temperatures within all:
(a) Public and private elementary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, vocational schools, government buildings, factories, and industrial buildings to no higher than sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit during business hours and to no higher than fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit during nonbusiness hours.
(b) Buildings and facilities not included in paragraph (B)(3)(a) of this rule no higher than the minimum temperatures required to protect health, safety, or welfare.
(4) The Ohio emergency management agency may be requested to:
(a) Establish and maintain a central emergency operations center staffed with appropriate persons from state, local, and other agencies for the purpose of providing coordinated responses to threats to life, property, public health, or safety.
(b) Plan the necessary administrative and logistical capability to support delivery of, and to provide security for the movement of, gas to designated priority consumers, where life, property, public health, or safety is threatened.
(c) Establish and maintain communications with emergency managers within each county in the geographic area for which the governor declared an energy emergency, for the purpose of providing coordinated local responses to threats to life, property, public health, or safety.
(5) The commission may take other actions it considers to be reasonable and appropriate.
(C) Mandatory curtailment - stage two. During an energy emergency, at such time as the governor or the commission determines that it is appropriate, the following provisions shall be applicable in addition to the provisions set forth in paragraph (B) of this rule:
(1) All firm gas service to any consumer in excess of fifty thousand cubic feet per day shall be curtailed, except for service for any priority use.
(2) Gas usage for space heating purposes shall be restricted to maintaining temperatures within all:
(a) Retail stores and transportation facilities to no higher than sixty degrees Fahrenheit during business hours and to no higher than fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit during nonbusiness hours.
(b) Buildings and facilities not included in paragraphs (B)(3)(a) and (C)(2)(a) of this rule to no higher than sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit during business hours and to no higher than the minimum temperatures required to protect health, safety, or welfare during nonbusiness hours.
(D) Mandatory curtailment - stage three. During an energy emergency, at such time as the governor or the commission determines that it is appropriate, the following provisions shall be applicable in addition to the provisions set forth in paragraph (C) of this rule:
(1) All firm gas service shall be curtailed, except for service for any priority use.
(2) Gas usage for space heating purposes shall be restricted as follows:
(a) Temperatures within all residences, hospitals, medical and human life-support systems, blood banks, and outpatient health facilities shall be maintained at no higher than sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit from four a.m. to nine p.m. and no higher than fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit at other times, except where necessary to protect health, safety, or welfare.
(b) Residential hot water heaters shall be set at no higher than low or medium settings, except where necessary to protect health, safety, or welfare.
(E) Mandatory curtailment - stage four. If the commission or the governor determines that the provisions of paragraph (D) of this rule do not adequately protect priority use or the public health, safety, or welfare, the commission, by order, may further curtail or restrict gas supply and usage.