OG&E Customers Should Prepare For Rolling Outages As System Struggles

Southwest Power Pool has moved its Energy Emergency Alert to Level 3. SPP is the Regional Transmission Operator for the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority according to KFOR and they are operating with reserves below the required minimum. As a result SPP may direct power suppliers to curtail energy use through controlled interruptions of service, like rolling outages.

Some OG&E customers are already experiencing outage which are already underway. OG&E says customers should be prepared for temporary outages at anytime. No warning will be given if your power is about to go out and there's no estimated time for the rolling outages to end. This is the first time that OG&E has ever had to do controlled service interruptions.

The City of Edmond released the following statement:

"We have been informed that the SPP is starting rolling outages, and we will do our best to inform the public as soon as we know anything at all. We have been told that any outage will likely be in the 1-2 hour range.

Additional Monday Update: Southwest Power Pool Moves to Energy Emergency Alert Level 3.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3.

An EEA3 signals that SPP is operating with reserves below the required minimum and may mean that SPP directs power suppliers to curtail energy use through controlled interruptions of service. That request has not been made at this time, but may be at any time.

Monday Update: Southwest Power Pool Raises Energy Emergency Alert to Level 2

A declared emergency due to scarce electricity resources in our region has been raised another level, to Level 2. It includes a renewed call for our industrial, commercial and residential utility customers to conserve as much electricity and natural gas as they can for at least the next 48 hours.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the Regional Transmission Operator for our wholesale power supplier the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, had previously issued an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1, which meant that SPP was experiencing conditions where all available resources were needed. In Level 2, an official appeal to public conservation is made. This is an attempt to avoid Level 3, which would mean SPP would be energy deficient and could implement controlled service interruptions on a temporary basis.

Customers are asked to take these conservation requests seriously. They can take the following steps to conserve energy and natural gas:

• Set thermostats lower than usual, if health permits

• Postpone using major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers until the demand for electricity decreases

• Turn off electric lights and appliances that you do not need or are not using, and

• Keep doors, windows and blinds shut to retain heat in houses

Energy emergency alerts are due to a number of factors resulting from widespread, long-lasting and extreme cold weather. These factors include, but are not limited to, high electricity use across the entire SPP system, inadequate supply and high prices of natural gas, and low supply of wind generation and wind-forecast uncertainty.

Southwest Power Pool Moves to Energy Emergency Alert Level 3.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3.

An EEA3 signals that SPP is operating with reserves below the required minimum and may mean that SPP directs power suppliers to curtail energy use through controlled interruptions of service. That request has not been made at this time, but may be at any time."


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