[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19465-19466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07301]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PL20-5-000]


Business Continuity of Energy Infrastructure

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Policy statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission states that it will expeditiously review and 
act on requests for relief in response to the national emergency caused 
by COVID-19, and that it will give its highest priority to processing 
filings made for the purpose of assuring the business continuity of 
regulated entities' energy infrastructure during this extraordinary 
time.

DATES: This policy statement will become applicable April 7, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Wozniak (Technical 
Information), Office of Energy Market Regulation, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, 202-
502-8931, [email protected].
    Kaleb Lockwood (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, (202) 502-8255, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. On March 13, 2020, the President issued a proclamation declaring 
a National Emergency concerning COVID-19. Entities regulated by the 
Commission have had to take unprecedented actions in response to the 
emergency conditions, including directing staff to work remotely for an 
extended period, which may disrupt, complicate, or otherwise change 
their normal course of business operations. In light of the President's 
proclamation, the Commission believes it is appropriate to provide 
regulatory guidance on certain energy infrastructure, market, 
reliability and security matters. We understand that regulated entities 
may need to implement new procedures, update and/or suspend existing 
procedures, and take other measures to safeguard the business 
continuity of their systems. We are aware that such regulated entities 
may have questions about their ability to meet regulatory requirements 
and/or recover the expenses necessary if they take steps to safeguard 
the business continuity of their systems during the national emergency. 
We want to assure regulated entities that we will expeditiously review 
and act on requests for relief, including but not limited to, requests 
for cost recovery necessary to assure business continuity of the 
regulated entities' energy infrastructure in response to the national 
emergency.
    2. We will give our highest priority to processing filings made for 
the purpose of assuring the business continuity of regulated entities' 
energy infrastructure during this extraordinary time. We view the 
reliability and security of our Nation's vital energy infrastructure as 
critical to meeting the energy requirements essential to the American 
people.
    3. The Commission fully supports the continued cooperation of the 
energy industry, customers, and Federal, State,

[[Page 19466]]

and local government partners to provide any additional safeguards 
necessary to protect the business continuity of the Nation's vital 
energy infrastructure.

    By the Commission.

    Issued: April 2, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-07301 Filed 4-2-20; 5:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P