Leap - Frequently Asked Questions

Planning is the key to success during disasters, outages, energy disruptions and shortages!

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About LEAP | Emergency Planning | LEAP Partners | LEAP F.A.Q.

What is LEAP?

LEAP stands for Local Energy Assurance Plan. LEAP was designed to organize, prepare and strengthen people and energy supply organizations within the community to handle disasters and energy disruptions more effectively.

What is energy assurance?

Energy Assurance is the ability to supply energy when and where it is needed. There are three basic categories of energy assurance: planning, response and education.

What is mitigation?

Mitigation is the an action plan that will lessen the impact in the event of a disaster or energy disruption. The response plan cover various scenarios before, during and after a disaster

What is resiliency?

Resiliency is a community's ability to effectively manage disasters and energy disruptions and the ability to recover from an emergency quickly. All energy systems have vulnerabilities and are prone to periodic outages or supply disruptions. Identifying the vulnerabilities and working to strengthen them builds resiliency into the energy supply chain system and will minimize the duration of outages and disruptions.

What is vulnerability?

Vulnerability is a point of weakness in the energy supply chain.

Why do we need a Local Energy Assurance Plan in the Heber Valley?

The Heber Valley is subject to various potential disasters that could threaten the energy supply chain. Floods, storms, earthquakes and fires are just a few of the threats that exist in the Heber Valley. The Local Energy Assurance Plan organizes first responders and the community so that in the event of a disaster or energy disruption steps will be taken to minimize the negative impact on the community.

What is critical infrastructure?

Critical infrastructure is comprised of the energy systems, people and resources that are responsible for the delivery of energy. When the critical infrastructure is damaged by a disaster it can have a cascading effect on the entire community. Protecting and strengthening the critical infrastructure is a primary goal of LEAP.

What agencies are involved with LEAP?

Heber Light & Power is the LEAP project leader working with the Utah State Department of Homeland Security, Public Technology Institute, Wasatch County, Questar, Heber City, Midway City, Charleston City and fuel transport companies. Together we have identified our vulnerabilities and strengths and we are in the process of developing plans to build a more reliable and robust energy delivery system.

Who is funding the LEAP project?

In April 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Heber City with a grant to implement a LEAP plan under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Heber City, along with 42 other cities and towns in 25 states, received money to develop new LEAP plans or improve existing energy assurance plans.

When will the LEAP plan be complete?

The Heber City Leap Plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2012.

How can I stay informed about the LEAP plan?

You can follow our LEAP progress on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Who can I contact for more information about LEAP?

Jason Norlen is the project manager for the Heber City Leap Project. He can be contacted at the following email address: jnorlen@heberpower.com