direct testimony of the capital expenditures, reliability, and - nyseg

Case 09-E-____; Case 09-G-____ (NYSEG)DIRECT TESTIMONY OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES,RELIABILITY, AND OPERATIONS PANEL12345678910111213141516171819202122Q. Has NYSEG performed the assessment?A. Yes. The Company filed its Field Staffing for Reliability Self-Assessment Reporton January 7, 2009.Q. What were the primary findings of NYSEG's Field Staffing for Reliability Self-Assessment Report?A. The primary finding was that field electric craft position staffing levels are animportant component of NYSEG's reliability program and that NYSEG needs toincrease the number of fully qualified electric craft positions.Q. Has NYSEG identified additional full time equivalent positions to supportreliability?A. Yes. Additional positions are needed to maintain the electric system. Thesewould include workers skilled in overhead lines, underground cables, substations,and system protection.Q. Are there positions needed beyond the craft positions to support safety andreliability performance?A. Yes, additional positions are necessary in distribution engineering to evaluatehigh priority circuits, plan and design improvements, and maintain effectivestandards. Positions in maintenance engineering would provide for additionalanalysis of system performance and inspection results and the development anddirection of maintenance plans. Other positions are necessary to support thescheduling, coordination and processing of work. Qualified SecurityInvestigators are important to support the continued protection of employees and57