Critical Load Program

Our Critical Load Program is a registry of nonresidential service locations that can be classified as public safety, industrial, natural gas infrastructure, or communications, and have an approved Critical Load Program application with PEC. When planned outages are scheduled or service interruptions for nonpayment occur, we will attempt to provide advance notice so preparations can be made. For unplanned outages, PEC will prioritize Critical Load Program participants for restoration as much as practicable.

Our Critical Load Program sites cannot be guaranteed an uninterrupted, regular, or continuous power supply. Locations registered in the program are not exempt from planned service interruptions, nor are registered members exempt from their financial responsibilities or the termination of service in accordance with PEC policies.

Sites eligible must fall into one of the follow categories:

• Public Safety: A member that is considered crucial for the protection or maintenance of public safety. Sites will be divided into three categories: public health, public water infrastructure, or public facilities or emergency operations. Examples of sites accepted under this category include hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and critical water and wastewater facilities.
  • Public Health — An active state licensure number must be provided to be eligible. Without the number, the site is ineligible. Staff can approve or deny sites based on medical need. Providing a state number does not guarantee the designation of critical load.
    
    • Hospital — Trauma Center
    • Hospital — with surgery or emergency treatment
    • Licensed Day Surgery
    • Licensed Emergency Care
    • Licensed Dialysis Clinic
    • Licensed Birthing Clinic
    • Licensed Skilled Nursing Facility
    • Licensed Unskilled Nursing Facility
    • Licensed Assisted Living Facility
    • Hospice Services Facility
  • Public Water Infrastructure — Community water and waste facilities may qualify, however, not all individual wells, sewer lift stations, etc. will qualify as critical.
    
    • Lift station
    • Wastewater treatment facility
    • Water treatment facility
    • Water intake site or pump
    • Water well
  • Public Facilities and Emergency Operations
    
    • Major or Regional Airport
    • Emergency Alert System Primary or Secondary Transmitter
    • 911 Center
    • Police
    • Fire
    • Flood Control
• Industrial: A member that is an industrial location at which interruption or suspension of electric service will create a dangerous or life-threatening condition on the member’s premises to employees or to the public.
• Natural Gas Infrastructure: A member that supports natural gas-fired generation, including gas control center or gas compressor plant.

• The application must be completed to obtain the designation of critical load status with PEC.
• Applications will only be received online.
• Critical load status includes designations for public safety, industrial, natural gas infrastructure, and communications. See category breakdown within the application.
• Designation of critical load status does not relieve a member of the obligation to pay for electric service, and service may be disconnected for failure to pay.
• This application will not be processed and approved if incomplete or improperly submitted. All information is required unless otherwise indicated.
• Submission of this application does not automatically result in critical load status. Notification of the status granted will be provided to the member at the email address provided during program registration.
• CRITICAL LOAD STATUS CAN NOT GUARANTEE AN UNINTERRUPTED, REGULAR, OR CONTINUOUS POWER SUPPLY. IF ELECTRICITY IS A NECESSITY, YOU MUST MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR ON-SITE BACK-UP CAPABILITIES OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES IN THE EVENT OF LOSS OF ELECTRIC SERVICE.

PEC is accepting applications online.

If you’ve already registered, visit the online portal.