Section 4901:1-10-27 - Inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of transmission and distribution facilities (circuits and equipment)(A) This rule applies to the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of utility transmission and distribution system facilities (circuits and equipment). The rebuttable presumption that an electric utility and/or transmission owner is providing adequate service pursuant to paragraph (F) of rule 4901:1-10-02 of the Administrative Code, does not apply to this rule. (B) Transmission system performance assessment. Every five years each electric utility and transmission owner shall file with the commission a report setting forth its methodology used to assess the reliability of its transmission circuits. That methodology shall be subject to review and acceptance by the director of the rates and analysis department.(1) Each electric utility or transmission owner shall submit a method to assess circuit reliability based on the total number of sustained outages per circuit per calendar year and other factors proposed by the electric utility, or required by the electric reliability organization (ERO), the regional reliability organization (RRO), or the regional transmission operator, which affect circuit performance, together with supporting justification for that method. (a) If the electric utility and/or transmission owner and the director of the rates and analysis department can not agree on a method to assess transmission circuit reliability, the electric utility and/or transmission owner shall apply, within ninety calendar days after the submission of its proposal, to the commission for a hearing and shall file a written report along with documentation supporting its methodology.(b) Revisions to a previously accepted methodology for assessing the reliability of its transmission circuits, shall be submitted for review and acceptance along with supporting justification to the director of the utilities department, no later than ninety calendar days prior to the beginning of the next succeeding calendar year.(2) Each electric utility or transmission owner shall submit a report on electronic media in a format prescribed by the commission on or before March thirty-first of each year, that identifies the performance of each transmission circuit for the previous calendar year. Each annual report shall, at a minimum, provide the following information for each transmission circuit: (a) The circuit identification number.(b) The circuit name (if different from the origin terminus).(c) The circuit origin and terminus.(d) The circuit voltage level (KV).(f) The circuit in-service date, where available.(g) The number of unplanned outages (sustained and momentary if available) and their causes by circuit.(h) The substation(s) and/or distribution circuit(s) affected by each of the outages reported for paragraph (C)(2)(g) of this rule, by circuit.(i) A description of and the rationale for any remedial action taken or planned to improve circuit performance or for taking no remedial action.(j) The start and completion dates of any remedial action taken or planned.(k) The applicable ERO standard requirement.(l) The applicable ERO standard violation.(3) The annual report shall be submitted in a form prescribed by the commission or its staff.(C) Transmission and distribution facilities inspections. Unless otherwise determined by the commission, each electric utility and transmission owner shall, at a minimum, inspect its electric transmission and distribution facilities (circuits and equipment) to maintain quality, safe, and reliable service on the following scheduled basis:
(1) Distribution - all distribution circuits and equipment, including above-ground facilities associated with the operation of underground circuits, shall be inspected at least once every five years.(2) Transmission - all transmission circuits and equipment shall be inspected at least once every year.(3) Substations - all transmission and distribution substations and equipment shall be inspected twelve times annually, with no inspection interval exceeding forty calendar days between inspections.(4) On or before March thirty-first of each year, each electric utility and transmission owner shall submit a report in an electronic medium, in a format prescribed by the commission or its staff, of the electric utility's and/or transmission owner's compliance with the inspection schedule in paragraphs (D)(1) to (D)(3) of this rule for the preceding calendar year. The annual report of inspection compliance shall include:(a) A listing of distribution circuits inspected during the year and, for each listed circuit, the date(s) such inspection was performed.(b) A listing of transmission circuits inspected during the year and, for each listed circuit, the date(s) such inspections were performed.(c) A listing of all substations and the date of each inspection during the year.(d) The date(s) when any circuits or substations were added or retired during the reporting year.(D) Transmission and distribution inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs. (1) Each electric utility and transmission owner shall establish, maintain, and comply with written programs, policies, procedures, and schedules for the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of its transmission and distribution circuits and equipment. These programs shall establish preventative requirements for the electric utility to maintain safe and reliable service. Programs shall include, but are not limited to, the following facilities:(b) Circuit and line inspections.(c) Primary enclosures (e.g., pad-mounted transformers and pad-mounted switch gear) and secondary enclosures (e.g., pedestals and handholes).(f) Right-of-way vegetation control.(2) Each electric utility shall file its inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs, instituted pursuant to paragraph (E)(1) of this rule, with the commission. The electric utility's filing shall include supporting justification and rationale based upon generally accepted industry practices and procedures. (3) If a filing to establish the electric utility's inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs is not acted upon by the commission within forty-five calendar days after it is filed, the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs shall be deemed approved on the forty-sixth day after filing.(4) Each electric utility and transmission owner shall maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with its transmission and distribution facilities inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs as required by this rule. Each electric utility and transmission owner shall record all deficiencies revealed by inspections or tests and all actions taken to correct those deficiencies. Lines and equipment with recorded defects that could reasonably be expected to endanger life or property shall be promptly repaired, disconnected, or isolated. All remaining deficiencies shall be corrected by the end of the calendar year following the year of the inspection or testing that originally revealed such deficiencies was completed. The electric utility shall document all deficiencies that are not corrected within the designated time, including the reason for not taking corrective action.(E) Inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement program revisions and amendments. (1) All revisions or amendments (including modification to a current program, addition of a new program, or elimination of an existing program) requested by an electric utility shall be filed with the commission as outlined in paragraph (E)(2) of this rule.(2) If a filing to revise or amend the electric utility's inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs is not acted upon by the commission within forty-five days after it is filed, the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs shall be deemed approved on the forty-sixth day after filing.Ohio Admin. Code 4901:1-10-27
Effective: 4/8/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/30/2026
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: R.C. 4905.22, 4905.04, 4928.06, 4928.11
Rule Amplifies: R.C. 4905.06, 4905.22, 4928.11
Prior Effective Dates: 09/18/2000, 01/01/2004, 06/29/2009, 12/20/2014, 11/01/2021