Federal Electrical Emergency Preparedness Is Inadequate

Gao ID: EMD-81-50 May 12, 1981

GAO reviewed the vulnerability of the nation's electric power systems to disruptions from acts of war, sabotage, and terrorism and analyzed the federal role in dealing with major, long-term electrical emergencies resulting from such acts.

Federal leadership for electrical emergency planning and preparation is unorganized and ineffective. GAO found that: (1) the Department of Energy (DOE) has an inadequate program for dealing with major electrical disruptions; (2) DOE Emergency Electric Power Administration representatives are unsure of their status, roles, authority, and responsibility, and doubtful that the organization could operate during an emergency; (3) DOE does not have adequate plans to manage and mitigate electric power disruptions; (4) emergency plans to manage such disruptions and restore the power system are needed; and (5) problems exist in federal coordination with respect to electric emergency preparedness.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: John W. Sprague Team: General Accounting Office: Energy and Minerals Division Phone: (202) 512-7783


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