Sec.16-11-99a. Permanent and portable generators

(a) Each company shall provide permanently installed gasoline, propane-fueled, natural gas or oil-fired standby power equipment at such facility locations as are necessary to provide sufficient standby power capacity. The prior approval of the Connecticut Department of Health Services shall be required for the installation of standby power equipment at a facility location.

(1) Portable generators with sufficient standby power capacity may be considered acceptable as an alternative to an on-site generator. Such portable generators may be used only if there are suitable controls, connections and manual or automatic switches in the pumphouse that are operational as of the effective date of Sections 16-11-99 through 16-11-99d.

(2) Portable generators shall be owned or leased at all times by the company, by a subsidiary of the company, by the parent of the company, or by a corporation with the same parent as the company.

(3) Portable generators must be ready to provide power within four hours of an electrical outage, unless the company has sufficient atmospheric storage to provide safe and adequate service, in conformance with the requirements of the Connecticut Department of Health Services concerning purity and adequacy of water, for up to twenty-four hours without electric power, but in no event shall standby power not be provided more than twenty-four hours after the occurrence of an electrical outage.

(4) Each company providing standby power through the use of a portable generator or portable generators shall report to the Department the type and capacity of the generator or generators, the location where the generator or generators are regularly stored, and the site or sites where the generator or generators will be employed, no later than the implementation date provided in Section 16-11-99c.

(b) Fuel storage may be above ground or below grade, and shall comply with all pertinent statutes, regulations, and codes, except that a direct buried tank shall not be permitted. A containment area capable of holding the full volume of the fuel tank shall be provided, except for propane and natural gas. The fuel tank shall be properly located to protect the water source from accidental spills. Review by, and the approval of the Connecticut Department of Health Services, shall be required prior to the installation of a fuel storage tank.

(c) Sufficient fuel storage capacity shall be provided for the generation of standby power by permanently installed standby power equipment for at least twenty-four (24) hours, and by portable generators for at least eight (8) hours.

(d) Each company shall test standby power equipment, at the site where the standby power equipment will be employed, at least once in every consecutive thirty (30) day period, under load, for a minimum duration of thirty (30) minutes, and shall maintain a record of the results of such test. Each company shall perform maintenance of its standby power equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, at least once in every consecutive twelve (12) month period, and shall maintain a record of equipment maintenance. Each company shall submit a report on its standby power equipment testing results and on its equipment maintenance program to the Department, and to the Connecticut Department of Health Services, annually on or before the last day of January following the close of each calendar year.

(e) Each company shall notify the local electric utility of the provisions for standby power made by the company, including but not limited to the operating capacity and characteristics of the generating units. Installation of any standby power equipment shall not be made with the electric utility system without the express written approval of the electric utility.

(Effective June 22, 1990)