UPDATED, 2:20 p.m. Monday: According to Midwest Energy, the Energy Emergency Alert Level issued by the Southwest Power Pool has been scaled back to Level 2.
Midwest Energy
The Southwest Power Pool, which is the regional transmission operator for a 14-state region, issued a first-ever Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 to be effective at 10:08 a.m. Monday. An EEA3 is the highest of three levels of energy emergency alert and signals that SPP's operating reserves are below the required minimum.
As part of an EEA3, the SPP is asking member utilities to curtail energy use through controlled interruptions of service. Over the next few days, Midwest Energy may begin mandatory interruptions of service to non-critical facilities on a rotational basis, with each rotation lasting no more than two hours. Many of these interruptions would involve oil field service and industrial-type loads, though some rural residential customers in oil production areas could also be affected.
To further reduce loads, Midwest Energy is again asking customers whose health permits to turn thermostats down, and to not use appliances with heavy energy consumption, continuing through mid-week. A few specific actions customers can take to make a significant impact on electric and natural gas demand:
- If your health permits, turn your furnace thermostat down 3 to 5 degrees lower than normal.
- Postpone using high-consumption appliances such as clothes dryers, ovens and dishwashers. Delaying laundry a day or two, or making microwave-friendly meals, and hand-washing dishes would save significant amounts of energy.
- Turn off any lights and appliances that you are not using.
The record-breaking cold is also putting a significant strain on natural gas supplies. The cold weather is freezing off natural gas production, making less gas available for delivery to customers. Some pipelines are imposing cuts on the amount of gas available to customers, so Midwest Energy is asking its natural gas customers to conserve gas as well. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts at conservation.
Updated 2 p.m. Monday to clarify possible interruptions of service.