Md. Code Regs. 20.50.12.10

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 20.50.12.10 - Periodic Equipment Inspections

A. Each utility shall adopt and follow written operation and maintenance procedures for its electric plant in order to maintain safe and reliable service. The operation and maintenance programs shall account for the utility's experience, good engineering practices, and judgment, and manufacturer's recommendations.

B. Each electric utility shall file its written operation and maintenance programs required under §A of this regulation with the Commission within 60 days from the effective date of these regulations and the programs shall be designed to achieve, at a minimum, the level of reliability established by the Commission's regulations.

C. If the electric utility makes a material change to its written operation and maintenance programs required under §B of this regulation, the utility shall file the change with the Commission not less than 60 days prior to implementing the change, unless exigent circumstances warrant implementation without prior notice, in which case the change shall be filed by no later than 30 days after implementation. The filing shall describe each change and the reason for the change.

D. The operation and maintenance programs required by §B of this regulation shall:

(1) Include the frequency or triggers for performing an inspection;

(2) Identify the electric plant inspections to be performed; and

(3) Identify acceptance criteria for the inspections.

E. Except as provided under §D of this regulation and Regulation .09 of this chapter, the operation and maintenance programs required by §B of this regulation need not include detailed procedures and shall include a description of the corrective maintenance priorities and general timelines for the overall repair of the electric plant.

F. Each utility shall maintain sufficient records to give evidence of compliance with its operation and maintenance programs and shall self-report compliance and non-compliance with its maintenance program each year in its annual performance report.

G. If a utility fails to comply with its operation and maintenance programs and has not received a stay of enforcement pursuant to §H of this regulation, the utility shall provide a corrective action plan, preferably in its annual performance report but by no later than April 1.

H. If a utility cannot perform regular periodic electric plant maintenance work on its electric distribution system according to timeline requirements documented in its operation and maintenance program manual or its vegetation management program pursuant to Regulation .09 of this chapter, the electric company may request a stay of enforcement on a form specified by the Commission. The stay of enforcement request shall demonstrate that the electric company has a good cause for delay, can maintain safety and reliability for the duration of the stay of enforcement, and provides an abatement plan to return to normal timeline requirements. Approval of both the stay of enforcement request and the return to normal shall be delegated to the Commission's Engineering Division.

Md. Code Regs. 20.50.12.10

Regulation .10 amended effective 50:16 Md. R. 728, eff. 8/21/2023