§ 69.17. Critical period procedures.
(a) A critical period exists when the NGDC declares an Operational Flow Order (OFO). A critical period implies the need for heightened awareness and attention by all parties.
(1) OFOs are issued to alleviate stress, or potential stress, to the NGDC system that threatens safety or reliability, or both.
(2) OFOs are an action of last resort, are never issued lightly, and are only issued for safety or reliability reasons.
(3) OFOs are distinct from, and do not preclude, other types of flow orders which an NGDC may issue to satisfy other obligations of the NGDC or the SOLR under the code or this title, such as the obligation to fulfill the least cost fuel procurement requirements of section 1318 of the act (relating to determination of just and reasonable gas cost rates).
(b) The NGDC should describe in detail, in its tariff, the actions it will take in advance of, and during a critical period. At a minimum, those actions should include the following:
(1) Exercises wherein critical period communications between, and the required responses of, the parties can be tested.
(2) A protocol for issuing and communicating system alerts that announce actual or pending events that, if unchecked, may result in a critical period, and call for voluntary actions or responses from NGSs and customers.
(3) A protocol for issuing and communicating OFOs. The protocol should address how and when the OFOs will be announced, and provide for disseminating periodic status reports during the period an OFO is in effect. OFOs should state the actions required and the reasons for the actions, be as localized as possible and be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 69.11 (relating to definitions); 52 Pa. Code § 69.18 (relating to communications protocols); and 52 Pa. Code § 69.19 (relating to operational and capacity councils).
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