Energy Emergency Contingency Planning at Federal and State Levels

The focus of the Department of Energy's (DOE) emergency preparedness effort was the Energy Emergency Planning Guide. This Guide was merely a list of proposed measures that might be taken at federal, state, or local levels, and not all of these measures were feasible. DOE response to the coal strike of 1977 through 1978 involved two hastily organized ad hoc task forces to manage possible shortages of coal and electricity. DOE concentrated on power supplies and failed to monitor consumer costs adequately. However, federal actions were a minor factor in the management of the energy emergency. The major factors in managing the emergency were the foresight and planning of the electric utilities and the demonstrated willingness and ability of the states to respond with minimal federal intervention. The Administration seriously overestimated the impact of the strike on unemployment levels; access to data that could clarify reasons for the overestimation has been withheld. Minor improvements in the state of preparedness of federal and state agencies involve somewhat better staffing, revisions in the planning guide, and the learning experience of the 1977 to 1978 winter. The use of contractors has been greatly expanded in current planning following the identification of deficiencies in DOE handling and monitoring of contractual services for contingency planning. The expanded use of contractors will require close monitoring to ensure satisfactory performance.