Press Releases
A statement from Barbara Sugg, Southwest Power Pool president and chief executive officer
As a grid operator tasked with ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity to a 14-state region, Southwest Power Pool experienced the most operationally challenging week we’ve ever faced in our 80-year history last week. Record-low temperatures hit the entirety of our service territory and stayed low for days on end. The result was a simultaneous increase in electricity use at the same time power producers faced fuel-supply issues and equipment malfunctions: a perfect storm that stressed the bulk electric system to its limits. And, yet, with only two short-lived exceptions, SPP kept the lights on.
Read MoreSPP ends Energy Emergency Alert, remains in conservative operations
As of 9:30 a.m. Central time, Feb. 18, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is no longer under an energy emergency alert (EEA). Due to continuing high loads and other implications of severe cold weather, it remains in a period of conservative operations until 10 p.m. Central time, Feb. 20, for the entire SPP balancing authority area.
Read MoreGrid Conditions Update (Feb. 16, 2021 6:46 a.m.): EEA3 declared effective immediately
SPP is declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3 effective immediately for our entire 14-state balancing authority area. System-wide generating capacity has dropped below our current load of approximately 42 gigawatts (GW) due to extremely low temperatures and inadequate supplies of natural gas.
Read MoreSPP issues new energy emergency alert due to extreme cold
Extreme cold weather has created energy deficiencies in the Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) region. SPP declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2 beginning at 7:22 am central time Monday, Feb. 15. An EEA Level 2 requires SPP to direct its member companies to issue public conservation appeals. This EEA2 alert will remain in effect until further notice to mitigate the risk of more widespread and longer-lasting outages.
Read MoreSPP elevates Energy Emergency Alert to Level 3 as grid conditions tighten further
Persistent and extreme cold weather has led to region-wide electricity use that exceeds available generation across the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) service territory. At 10:08 a.m. central time on Monday, Feb. 15 the grid operator declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3, signaling that its operating reserves are below the required minimum. SPP has directed its member utilities to be prepared to implement controlled interruptions of service if necessary.
Read MoreSPP restores load, anticipates that regional grid conditions will continue to evolve
After directing its member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of service shortly after noon on Feb. 15, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has restored load to its 14-state region as of 2:00 p.m. Central time. The grid operator now has enough generation available to meet demand throughout its service territory and to fully meet its minimum reserve requirements.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool initiates controlled outages to maintain system reliability
As extreme cold weather persists across the 14-state Southwest Power Pool (SPP) balancing authority area, electricity use has exceeded available generation. The grid operator declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3 at 10:08 a.m. Central time on Feb. 15, when it was forced to begin relying on required reserve energy. After exhausting usage of available reserve energy, SPP has now subsequently directed its member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of service effective immediately to prevent further, more widespread and uncontrolled outages.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool preparing for worsening system conditions due to extreme cold
The effects of widespread and extreme cold weather have led to increasingly tightening conditions in Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) service territory. We have requested that our members and market participants throughout the SPP region conserve energy beginning at midnight central time on Monday, Feb. 15 and for the following 48 hours to mitigate the risk of more widespread and longer-lasting outages.
Read MoreSouthwest Power Pool expands offerings to western utilities with launch of new electricity market
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) launched its Western Energy Imbalance Services (WEIS) market at midnight Feb. 1. The real-time balancing market is the latest of SPP’s contract-based Western Energy Services to be implemented in the Western Interconnection and is expected to lower wholesale electricity costs, increase price transparency, and mitigate congestion on the transmission system for market participants.
Read MoreSPP becomes first regional grid operator with wind as No. 1 annual fuel source, considers electric storage participation in markets, approves 2021 transmission plan
Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) leadership and stakeholders met throughout January to collaborate on regional grid operations and markets, transmission planning, membership expansion and corporate affairs.
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