Southwest Power Pool, which manages the electricity grid and wholesale electricity market for 14 central states, said Monday that it directed its members to begin controlled power outages.
Game status: The SPP will implement “controlled power outages” to prevent uncontrolled power outages as states in the region face an aggressive winter storm.
- Company issued a level 3 energy emergency alert, ie “its operating reserves are below the required minimum”.
- SPP specified that, although he told member utilities to reduce energy consumption, those members would deal with whether the outages were scheduled or not.
- SPP operates the power grid in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.
What are they saying: “Following the exhausting use of available spare energy, SPP subsequently directed its member utilities to implement controlled service outages to prevent further, more widespread and uncontrolled outages,” SPP said in a statement.
- “In our history as a network operator, this is an unprecedented event and marks the first time the SPP has ever had to request controlled service interruptions,” said Lanny Nickel, SPP’s executive vice president.
Not worth anything: More than 2 million people in Texas are already without electricity because they face single-digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chills.
To shrink: At least 400,000 homes, businesses and other customers have lost energy in Mexico as low temperatures in Texas have triggered a gas shortage and taken power plants offline.
- About 70% of those affected had their power restored by noon, according to the network operator, Prices.