The Maryland Public Service Commission wants utilities to perform better...

as well as point to the significance of electricity for telecom. “Telephone service for more and more people is dependent on electricity; computers, modems, and handheld devices may have backup battery capacity but eventually require a power source,” the PSC said in its Wednesday order (http://bit.ly/YZm2jZ). “As this use of the various appliances and technologies has increased, perhaps without being fully aware of it, our dependence on electricity has also increased.” Among its recommendations, the PSC directs companies to submit “a report on any improvements made to communications systems since the Derecho” by March 29 and a report “on any further improvements planned and a timetable for completing such improvements” by May 31, the order said. These improvements may translate into mobile applications for handheld devices and smartphones, according to the commission. The order urges the companies to harmonize their telephone and website messages during outages and wants customers notified of what’s going on. Utilities should “provide timely and accurate information as to restoration efforts that are underway (crew status with status levels clearly defined and ETR) via telephone, mobile application and website; download applications for mobile access to information with such information updated at a defined minimum interval; and incorporate dynamic notification capabilities into customer information systems such as alternate contact information during outages, and choice of notification method (phone/text/email) and preferred time of day of notification,” the PSC said.