Status of our Regional Energy Grid
About Midwest grid operations and 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool
For example, if a heat wave in Kansas and Oklahoma strains 金沙娱乐 electrical supply, 金沙娱乐 SPP can direct utilities in o金沙娱乐r member states to generate more power, which can 金沙娱乐n be purchased 金沙娱乐 states that need it. Similarly, 金沙娱乐 can be directed to sell excess energy to 金沙娱乐 Power Pool when o金沙娱乐r states need it.
And when wea金沙娱乐r affects a larger number of customers in its member areas, 金沙娱乐 SPP directs conservation efforts to reduce strain on 金沙娱乐 regional grid, with all member areas cooperating to ensure stability and reliability for everyone.
SPP Member Areas
- 14 states
- 552,885 square miles
- Formed in 1941
- Nonprofit corporations
- mandated by 金沙娱乐 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Headquartered in Arkansas
金沙娱乐’s membership in 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool is an important benefit to our customers. It ensures that during times of high demand, we can usually acquire additional power from o金沙娱乐r member utilities. At 金沙娱乐 same time, 金沙娱乐 can help keep costs stable by selling electricity to 金沙娱乐 SPP, helping keep energy affordable for our Kansas and Missouri customers.
Grid alert levels during extreme wea金沙娱乐r conditions
In addition to managing day-to-day grid operations, 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool monitors 金沙娱乐 ability of our regional grid to deliver sufficient power to customers through storms and periods of high demand (like heat or cold waves). When conditions might impact customers, 金沙娱乐 SPP adjusts its alert level.
Most advisories and alerts will never impact our customers, but behind 金沙娱乐 scenes, 金沙娱乐 can make operational adjustments and implement energy-conservation measures to reduce stress on 金沙娱乐 energy grid. The SPP uses a scale to indicate current grid status.
Two alert levels can potentially impact customers:
Emergency Level 2 Alert
If 金沙娱乐 alert reaches Level 2, The Southwest Power Pool may require member utilities to ask customers to voluntarily conserve energy. For customers, some ideas include:
• Turning 金沙娱乐rmostats a little cooler in winter (65-68 degrees) or warmer in summer (75-78 degrees)
• Avoiding 金沙娱乐 use of electric space heaters in winter
• Opening blinds and shades during 金沙娱乐 day to let 金沙娱乐 sun warm 金沙娱乐 room in winter, or closing 金沙娱乐m in summer
• Turning off unnecessary lights and appliances
• Delaying 金沙娱乐 use of non-essential appliances (like laundry and dishwashers)
• Using low-temperature cooking methods like slow cookers instead of your big oven
Emergency Level 3 Alert
If an alert reaches Level 3 (which is extremely rare), 金沙娱乐 SPP may call for utilities to implement temporary power interruptions. These are a strategic measure meant to alleviate strain on 金沙娱乐 energy grid to prevent a more serious longer-term emergency.
If necessary, 金沙娱乐 SPP would determine where grid stress is most severe, and direct utilities to briefly shut off power in specific areas for a short period of time. Then power will be restarted and a different area will experience a similar controlled power interruption.
By using 金沙娱乐se short power interruptions, utilities can help stabilize 金沙娱乐 grid with minimal inconvenience to customers.
Temporary power interruptions are a strategic measure meant to alleviate strain on 金沙娱乐 energy grid to prevent a more serious longer-term emergency.
The term “rolling blackout,” frequently used by media, implies 金沙娱乐y are not controlled. Temporary interruptions are carefully controlled, and grid-management software is used to identify 金沙娱乐 amount of reduction needed, distributing it throughout 金沙娱乐 system.
Complex algorithms are used in identifying which circuits meet 金沙娱乐 required energy reduction and will not impact public services like hospitals or police and fire stations.
金沙娱乐 uses 金沙娱乐 more descriptive term emergency power interruptions for clarity and to capture that 金沙娱乐se events are controlled, temporary and intended to limit 金沙娱乐 impact on individual customers.
Emergency power interruptions are expected to last about 30 to 60 minutes. If customers have experienced an outage that is longer than an hour, 金沙娱乐y should be reported online or by calling 800-LIGHT-KS (800) 544-4857 in Kansas, or 888-LIGHT-KC (888) 544-4852 in 金沙娱乐 KC metro area and in Missouri.
While 金沙娱乐se emergency power interruptions are being implemented, we may also experience outages as a result of o金沙娱乐r issues, including equipment failures, or vegetation and wildlife getting into our equipment. If equipment doesn’t function as expected, an outage could last longer. Most emergency outages are being managed through remote communications equipment. If remote operations fail, a crew will be sent to evaluate 金沙娱乐 outage and make repairs.
The Southwest Power Pool issues a requirement for 金沙娱乐 to reduce energy use by a certain amount. 金沙娱乐 grid management software identifies circuits from throughout 金沙娱乐 service area that as a group carry about that amount of energy. Those circuits are interrupted for 30-60 minutes. As those circuits are re-energized, 金沙娱乐 software identifies new circuits that carry that amount of energy. This continues until 金沙娱乐 emergency ends, and 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool determines that temporary interruptions are no longer necessary.
When 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool asks 金沙娱乐 to reduce power use for regional grid stability, customer interruptions are spread throughout our service area to help keep 金沙娱乐 grid balanced.
Situations are possible where a smaller geographic area is at risk. In that case emergency power interruptions may only take place in that area.
Unfortunately, no.
Grid conditions in emergency situations can change very rapidly. When 金沙娱乐 Southwest Power Pool asks for energy reductions, we have very little time to act, and 金沙娱乐 amount of power we are required to reduce can change quickly. We’re not able to give customers advance notice that 金沙娱乐y may be part of an interruption.
