The cold weather gripping Oklahoma and much of the Midwest prompted the Southwest Power Pool to issue a “Resource Advisory.”
It’s not one that will require utilities in Oklahoma and the 13 other states in the SPP to conserve energy. But it’s in effect from Monday until Wednesday noon.
As for the storm, temperatures into the single digits were recorded in Kansas, a state that is also a member of the SPP.
“This is the big one,” Chief Safety and Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth, with the Missouri Department of Transportation, told FOX Weather on Friday as state officials prepare for the worst.
- Resource Advisories from the Southwest Power Pool do not require the public to conserve energy,but are issued to raise awareness of potential threats to reliability among entities responsible for operating transmission and generation facilities.
- This Resource Advisory is being declared due to forecasted below average temperatures, potential for resource outages and reduction in wind output due to possible icing.
- Generation and transmission operators have been provided instructions on applicable procedures, including reporting any limitations, fuel shortages or concerns.
- To mitigate risks to reliability associated with these factors, SPP may use greater unit commitment notification timeframes, including making commitments before standard day-ahead market procedures and/or committing resources in reliability status.
- SPP will send additional information if necessary.
This latest Resource Advisory is in addition to the previously declared Weather Advisory, which will be effective Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. CT until an anticipated end time of Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. CT. The Weather Advisory is being declared due to forecasted below average temperatures, potential for heavy snowfall and freezing rain in some areas, and higher-than-usual demand for electricity.
WIBW TV in Topeka, Kansas reported Evergy, the largest utility in the state had crews restoring power following outages in the eastern part of the state. Some restoration efforts were delayed because crews took precaution in the weather conditions.
“All remaining outages from the weekend have been assigned to crews. However, restoration times are delayed as it is taking much longer for the crews to get to the outage locations due to the terrible road conditions, especially in rural areas. Crews are taking safety precautions and using safety equipment to avoid frostbite due to the low temperatures,” stated Evergy in a posting.