US wants retailers to add back-up power ahead of hurricane season

Washington (Platts)--27Apr2006

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and US Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff Thursday asked the major US oil companies and refiners to
ensure their retailers have emergency power systems needed to operate fuel
pumps during periods of power outages, especially as the nation moves into
hurricane season, which starts in June.

During last year's hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, many gasoline
stations had adequate supplies, they wrote, but "too few" had back-up
generators necessary to keep the pumps on during the power losses that came
with the storm.

"We need to solve this problem now -- not after a storm has stuck,"
Bodman and Chertoff wrote. "Preparedness is not simply an obligation of the
government, it is an obligation of every American, and of every company that
Americans depend on in an emergency."

The secretaries asked that the companies review operations "from pipeline
to gas pump" to "assess and close quickly any gaps" in emergency power
capability, especially along likely hurricane evacuation routes.

--Cathy Landry, cathy_landry@platts.com

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