As another round of bitter cold weather settles in over the Midwest, bringing snow, sleet and ice, it’s prompted officials controlling the 14-state electric grid known as the Southwest Power Pool, to issue an advisory to its members.
It’s only a “Weather Advisory” and does not require any conservation of energy on the part of customers of utilities in Oklahoma and the 13 other states. The advisory was issued Monday morning for “its entire Balancing Authority effective Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. CT until an anticipated end time of Thursday, February 13, at 12:00 p.m. CT.”
- Weather Advisories 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 Weather Advisory is being issued due to predicted extreme cold temperatures and forecasted heavy snow and ice.
- Individuals should contact their local utility for details specific to their area.
- 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.