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Alternate Tower Considerations <br />Piedmont Electric Membership Corp <br />A radio propagation study was completed for all of the listed tower sites. It should be <br />noted that because of terrain features, the coverage is not an exact circle and the coverage <br />radius is an average of the propagation study. The results of the study are listed below. <br />A copy of the studies is included in this document. <br />Tower <br />Coverage Radius (Miles) <br />Proposed PEMC Tower <br />20 <br />American Tower <br />14 <br />Crown Piney Grove <br />12 <br />Crown Hillsbrough <br />13 <br />Global Signal Laws Site <br />13 <br />The best coverage for PEMC is the proposed 350 -foot tower. Further study of the <br />propagation studies show that the proposed PEMC tower covers Orange County and <br />surrounding areas that comprise the service territory of PEMC. Each of the existing <br />tower sites in the study has coverage deficiencies that would have a severe impact on the <br />radio coverage require by PEMC. This is due to structure height, antenna height, ground <br />elevation and terrain features. <br />Typically, leased tower sites are not maintained at the same level as PEMC maintenance <br />procedures require. This includes but not limited to proper grounding, lightning <br />protection and emergency power systems. Having the proposed tower at the PEMC <br />facility, PEMC will properly maintain the tower and the associated emergency power <br />system, especially during emergency conditions. This includes but not limited to <br />changing the oil, fueling the generator and making preventative maintenance inspections <br />during emergency operating conditions. <br />Security Issues <br />The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defined the electric utility system as <br />part of the critical infrastructure facility. This infrastructure has been defined as any <br />facility or combination of facilities, which if severely damaged, would have a significant <br />impact on the ability to serve large quantities of customers for an extended period of <br />time. These damages would have a detrimental impact to the reliability or operability of <br />the energy grid, or would cause significant risk to public health and safety. <br />In order to properly operate and maintain an electric utility grid, electric utilities require <br />the use of a functional radio communications system/network. The radio <br />communications system must function on a daily basis as well as during emergency <br />conditions such as storms, hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. <br />The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) has established guidelines for <br />electric utilities to protect critical infrastructure. A copy of this document, Security <br />Guidelines for the Electric Sector: Physical Security is included in Tab 6 of this <br />Application Package. <br />Prepared by: <br />Alexander Utility Engineering, Inc. 6/28/2006 Page 2 of 3 <br />112 <br />