UPDATES ADDED FROM WEDNESDAY, FEB 17TH:
From Mark Becker, NPPD:
Feb 17, 2021 1:43 PM CST
MESSAGE
Effective at 1:15 p.m. Central time, SPP has declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1 for its entire 14-state balancing authority area.
Generation is currently sufficient to serve system-wide demand across the region and to fully satisfy operating reserve requirements.
We continue to urge all homes and businesses throughout our 14-state region to conserve electricity, but are not directing any interruptions of service at this time.
The public should follow their service providers’ directions regarding local outages, tips for conservation and safety.
Previously, SPP had been in an EEA Level 2 since 6:28 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
From Valentine City Manager:
10:23 AM CT: NPPD has been able to avoid service interruptions this morning, but things may change quickly. SPP is currently at a level 2. The next couple of hours are critical.
8:24 AM CT: NPPD has been informed that the Southwest Power Pool has moved them to Emergency Alert Level 3. That means they may be required to shed load beginning at 9:00 a.m. Both of our breakers are on the list of possible shut offs but they are toward the bottom of the list. We will not get a specific time if they are required to shed load in Valentine.
2/16/2021 5:31 PM CT:
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) continues to experience significant supply issues due to high load levels and limited generator availability. SPP’s forecasts anticipate that due to high load and persistent cold weather, additional periods of load shedding are possible over the next 48 hours. We have been informed that If NPPD is asked to shed load on February 17, 2021, the breaker feeding our Government Street substation is on the list to be shut down. They plan to roll the breakers in 30 minute increments but the outages can last as long as an hour. This breaker will affect the same customers as the first outage at about 7:15 a.m. on February 16th.
Energy Emergency Alert Level 1: Declared when all available resources have been committed to meet obligations, and SPP is at risk of not meeting required operating reserves.
Energy Emergency Alert Level 2: Declared when SPP can no longer provide expected energy requirements and is an Energy Deficient Entity, or when SPP foresees or has implemented procedures up to, but excluding, interruption of firm load commitments.
Energy Emergency Alert Level 3: At this level, SPP is utilizing operating reserves such that it is carrying reserves below the required minimum and has initiated assistance through the Reserve Sharing Group. Declared when SPP foresees or has implemented firm load obligation interruption. Before requesting an EEA 3, SPP will have already provided the appropriate internal notifications to its Market Participants.
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Just before 7 am on Tuesday morning, February 16th, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) declared 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.
We’ll be working with our member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of electric service throughout our region. This is done as a last resort to preserve the reliability of the electric system as a whole. Individuals in the SPP service territory should take steps to conserve energy use and follow their local utilities’ instructions regarding conservation, local conditions and the potential for outages to their homes and businesses.
We are currently forecasting a morning peak of above 44.6 GW around 9:00 a.m. Central time.
From NPPD: To maintain system reliability, NPPD has just been informed by SPP that we need to do emergency coordinated interruptions of service. These 30-minute to 1 hour interruptions of service occur in real-time, so we have very little, if any, notice as to where these interruptions will take place.
Our teammates are working diligently to restore power to all those impacted. Again, due to the cold weather, there might be issues with some equipment. Our lineworkers will address them on site. If you are still without power, please call 877-ASK-NPPD if you are an NPPD customer, or contact your local public power provider.
PLEASE NOTE, we are likely to see outages again tonight and possibly into tomorrow. So please plan for possible outages lasting 45 minutes. Please continue to take all reasonable steps to conserve energy use. We will continue to provide updates as conditions evolve.