EirGrid’s BECP is broken down into a number of component stages to ensure information will be shared with key stakeholders in a timely manner following the issuing of a Blue Alert and the corresponding activation of the PSRP and BECP. Stage 1 describes the critical first contact with key stakeholders Stage 2 describes the initial, and subsequently recurring SITREP meetings which will ensure accurate and consistent communication from EirGrid Stage 3 describes the two pronged approach to managing relationships and messages with stakeholders Figure 2-1 gives a high level overview of these various stages, their approximate timings and how they relate to each other. Subsequent sections provide a more detailed explanation of these individual stages.

1. BLACKSTART EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
VERSION 2.0
MAY 2013

2. 1 INTRODUCTION TO BLACKSTART EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
The objective of the Blackstart Emergency Communications Plan (BECP) is to set out
the appropriate communication and stakeholder management procedures to be
followed in the event of a widespread electricity system blackout. A crisis of this nature
is perhaps the ultimate crisis that can befall a utility and it is proposed that if appropriate
internal and external parties are fully familiar with, and trained in, implementing the
procedures necessary following such an occurrence, then this will also assist in dealing
with partial blackouts should these occur.
The BECP has been designed to complement EirGrid’s Power System Restoration
Plan, (PSRP – the key document which outlines the operational response to a system
blackout). Therefore it deals with primarily the worst case scenario, that is, total loss of
supply not only to the main system but also within generation stations.
This document outlines a framework of action to manage the sharing of information with
key stakeholders during a power system emergency. The foundation of the plan is to
underline to external parties that the system is currently being restored to its pre-
incident state in accordance with agreed and well practiced guidelines.
The purpose of the BECP is to:
i. Create an alerting and reporting communication procedure for key stakeholders
in the event of system blackouts
ii. Establish a framework to coordinate communication flow between EirGrid,
industry, government, other regulatory agencies, media and the public
The following table outlines the general roles and responsibilities of the parties involved
in responding to a system blackout.

3. STAKEHOLDER ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
NCC
National Control Centre
Following a widespread power outage, the NCC will implement
EirGrid’s PSRP to return the electricity system to its normal state.
SITREP
Situation Report
Meeting in which the Manager PSC will give the latest situational
report on the restoration of the system to the Operations Director
and Operations Liaison Person.
EERT
Electricity Emergency
Response Team
Meeting attended by senior management from DCENR, CER,
EirGrid, ESB and BGE.
EPON
Energy Press Officers
Network
Meeting attended by communications experts from DCENR, CER,
EirGrid, ESB and BGE. Will issue co-ordinated and ongoing
updates to the media, particularly radio. EirGrid to lead
communications until NCG convenes.
CER
Commission for Energy
Regulation
Will monitor compliance with regulatory obligations and monitor
response against previously agreed processes. Will participate in
Electricity Emergency Response Team (EERT) and EPON
(Energy Press Officers Network).
DCENR
Department of
Communications, Energy and
Natural Resources
Will facilitate linkage between key players for electricity
emergency and national emergency response. Will lead the NCG.
Will participate in EERT and EPON.
EirGrid As part of PSRP will work with NCC to restore electricity system to
normal configuration. Will participate in EERT and EPON (Energy
Press Officers Network). Will lead the industry communications
response until such time as the NCG is convened.
ESB Networks As part of PSRP will work with NCC to restore electricity system to
normal configuration. Will participate in EERT and EPON (Energy
Press Officers Network).
Gaslink / Bord Gáis
Networks
As part of PSRP the NGEM (National Gas Emergency Manager)
will work with NCC to restore electricity system to normal
configuration. Will participate in EERT and EPON (Energy Press
Officers Network).
Media The media, and particularly the medium of radio during a
blackstart, will be a key resource in distributing important
messages to the public.
NCG
National Coordination Group
Committee which coordinates actions by different government
departments in a national crisis. NCG to likely lead
communications once convened.
EirGrid Operations
Director
The Operations Director will lead the EirGrid response to
widespread power outages, from both a strategic and operational
perspective.
EirGrid Manager PSC The Manager PSC (Power System Control) will coordinate the
operational response to the emergency as per the PSRP. He/she

4. will also provide recurring updates to the SITREP meetings.
EirGrid OLP
Operations Liaison Person
The Operations Liaison Person will brief the Energy Press Officers
Network (EPON) on the progress of system restoration.

5. 2 BECP IMPLEMENTATION
2.1 Overview
EirGrid’s BECP is broken down into a number of component stages to ensure information will be
shared with key stakeholders in a timely manner following the issuing of a Blue Alert and the
corresponding activation of the PSRP and BECP.
Stage 1 describes the critical first contact with key stakeholders
Stage 2 describes the initial, and subsequently recurring SITREP meetings which will
ensure accurate and consistent communication from EirGrid
Stage 3 describes the two pronged approach to managing relationships and messages
with stakeholders
Figure 2-1 gives a high level overview of these various stages, their approximate timings and how
they relate to each other. Subsequent sections provide a more detailed explanation of these
individual stages.

6. Figure 2-1 – Overview of activation and implementation of BECP
Note:
The frequency of stages 3A and 3B may change as circumstances dictate.
Figure 2-1 assumes an electricity emergency only. Subsequent sections provide
guidance on how this plan can be adapted for use during a joint electricity and gas
emergency.
Blue Alert Declared in NCC
Widespread power outages
STAGE 1: Immediate Notification of Key Stakeholders
STAGE 2: Situation Report Meetings (SITREP)
EirGrid internal meeting. Manager PSC will brief the Operations Director and the Operations
Liaison Person on the progress of the system restoration.
STAGE 3A: Hourly Conference calls
with Electricity Emergency
Response Team (EERT)
STAGE 3B: Regular Updates for
Energy Press Officers Network
(EPON)
T = 0 hours
Hourly
T = 0 to
T = 1 hour
T = 1 hour
Hourly
STAGE 2 and then Stages 3A and 3B recurring
Hourly

7. 2.2 Stage 1 – Immediate Notification of Key Stakeholders
Following the issue of a Blue Alert in the NCC an internal communication process is initiated
whereby key EirGrid staff are notified of the event. This, in turn, will activate stage 1 of the BECP.
Stage 1 involves EirGrid making the critical first contact with key internal and external
stakeholders to give them an initial briefing on the incident. This briefing will form part of the
strategic communication response from EirGrid (as described in this document, the BECP) and is
separate from any operational communications (as outlined in the PSRP).
This contact from EirGrid confirms the presence of widespread power outages – once this verbal
confirmation is received and the stakeholder is satisfied with its veracity, each organisation
should then issue pre-agreed holding statements.
It should be noted that past experience of dealing with power outages has indicated that this
initial first contact will be a mixture of (a) EirGrid personnel contacting key stakeholders and (b)
these key stakeholders contacting various personnel in EirGrid directly for information.
2.3 Stage 2 – EirGrid SITREP Meeting
The SITREP is an EirGrid internal meeting held every hour on the ½ hour and is attended by
Manager PSC, Operations Director and the Operations Liaison Person. Here the Manager PSC
will brief the Operations Director and the Operations Liaison Person on the progress of the
system restoration. This, in turn will be used by the Operations Director and Operations Liaison
Person as the basis for the briefing of the EERT and EPON.
2.4 Stage 3A – Hourly EERT Conference Calls
The purpose of this conference call is to update key stakeholders with the latest information on
the situation.

8. The nature of this call, and the corresponding stakeholders involved, is dependent on the type of
emergency. For an electricity emergency refer to section 2.4.1 and for a joint electricity and gas
emergency refer to section 2.4.2.
2.4.1 Electricity Emergency
The Operations Director will chair a conference call with a group known as the Electricity
Emergency Response Team, (EERT). This group will be comprised of key personnel from the
DCENR, CER, Bord Gáis Networks / Gaslink
1
, ESB Networks and EirGrid.
Figure 2-2 Electricity Emergency Response Team (EERT)
As stated previously, the purpose of this conference call will be to update the above parties with
the latest information on the situation – it will not form part of the operational response which will
be solely directed from the NCC.
2.4.2 Joint Electricity and Gas Emergency
The EirGrid Operations Director and the Bord Gáis National Gas Emergency Manager (NGEM)
will jointly chair a conference with a group known as the Joint Energy Emergency Response
Team, (JEERT). This group will be comprised of key personnel from the DCENR, CER, BG
Networks, Gaslink, ESB Networks and EirGrid.
Figure 2-3 Joint Energy Emergency Response Team (JEERT)
1
The NGEM (National Gas Emergency Manager) will be the Bord Gáis Networks / Gaslink representative on the EERT.
EERT
JEERT

9. From an EirGrid perspective, the purpose of the conference call will be to update the above
parties with the latest information on the power system restoration – it will not form part of the
electricity operational response, which will be solely directed from the NCC.
From a Bord Gáis perspective, the JEERT will carry out the same role as the GERT (Gas
Emergency Response Team as described in the Bord Gáis Natural Gas Emergency Plan). Refer
to the following link for more details:
http://www.bordgais.ie/networks/ngep
2.5 Stage 3B – Hourly EPON Briefings
The Operations Liaison Person will brief the Energy Press Officers Network (EPON) – the
EPON will consist of communications experts from DCENR, CER, EirGrid, ESB and Gaslink.
Depending on the nature and duration of the emergency, a representative from EPON will liaise
with the media in one of the following manners:
1. EirGrid Coordinates and Leads the National Media Response
A media centre for holding regular press conferences, providing a working area for
journalists etc. will be established in Eirgrid’s offices in Ballsbridge. EirGrid will lead
the industry communications response until such time as the NCG is convened (if
appropriate to convene).
2. EirGrid Cooperates with Bord Gáis
In the event of a joint electricity and gas emergency the national media response may
be managed from either EirGrid or Bord Gáis offices, whichever is most appropriate.
In the event of the media centre being established in Bord Gáis offices, EirGrid
Communications will actively participate in and lend its resources to the media
response by providing updates on the electricity restoration, cooperating with key
stakeholder press offices and also assisting in the operation of the media centre.
3. The Irish Government’s National Coordination Group (NCG) manages the national media
response
In the event of the media centre being established in the National Emergency
Coordination Centre, (NECC), EirGrid Communications will actively participate in and
lend its resources to the media response by providing updates on the electricity
DCENR
CER
EirGridESB
Gaslink
EPON

10. restoration, cooperating with key stakeholder press offices and also assisting in the
operation of the media centre.
2.6 Stand Down
Stand Down – When the emergency has been resolved the Operations Director can authorise
the SITREP to stand down. Depending on the nature of the emergency, and the risk of
reoccurrence, the Operations Director may require the team to remain available to reconvene.

11. APPENDIX

12. APPENDIX – ACRONYMS
ACRONYM DESCRIPTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION
BECP
Blackstart Emergency Communications
Plan
This plan
CER Commission for Energy Regulation
Independent body responsible for overseeing
Ireland’s energy sector
DCENR
Department of Communications, Energy
and Natural Resources
Government department responsible for
Ireland’s energy sector
EERT Electricity Emergency Response Team
Composed of representatives from key
stakeholders in Ireland’s energy industry –
convened for an electricity emergency
EPON Energy Press Officers Network Composed of communications experts from
DCENR, CER, EirGrid, ESB and Gaslink
GERT Gas Emergency Response Team
Composed of representatives from key
stakeholders in Ireland’s energy industry –
convened for a gas emergency
JEERT Joint Energy Emergency Response
Team
Composed of representatives from key
stakeholders in Ireland’s energy industry –
convened for a joint electricity and gas
emergency
NCC National Control Centre
EirGrid control centre from which Ireland’s
electricity system is normally operated
NECC National Emergency Coordination
Centre
Centre for coordinating a strategic response to
a major emergency
NCG National Coordination Group
Committee which coordinates actions by
different government departments in a national
crisis. Meetings are held in NECC.
NGEM National Gas Emergency Manager
Defined role in Gaslink Natural Gas
Emergency Plan
OLP Operations Liaison Person Senior member of Operations Team with an
understanding of the real time operation of the
power system and the BECP
PSRP Power System Restoration Plan
EirGrid document which describes power
system restoration procedures
SITREP Situation Report
EirGrid team responsible for implementing the
BECP
T = 1 hourHourly
STAGE 2
and then
Stages 3A
and 3B
recurring
T = 0 to
T = 1 hour
T = 0 hoursHourlyHourly