What You Need to Know
- Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and SWEPCO have continued to monitor the electric power grid following a forced outage on Saturday.
- Current grid conditions appear stable.
- SWEPCO worked with SPP to bring additional power generation online since yesterday to help.
- According to Southwest Power Pool (SPP), generation and transmission constraints localized in areas served by SWEPCO led to the directed action from SPP to curtail load late Saturday afternoon, impacting approximately 30,000 customers in northwest Louisiana. Customers were restored Saturday night.
- These emergency outages were required to prevent potentially longer-term outages and more widespread damage to the electric grid.
- We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate our customers’ patience as we took mandatory steps to protect the grid.
CURRENT SITUATION
We understand how frustrating and inconvenient it is to lose power, and we sincerely apologize for the interruptions you experienced during yesterday’s mandatory service interruption. We want to assure you that grid conditions are currently stable. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), our regional transmission organization, has confirmed that the situation has improved, and we are continuing to monitor it closely.
Our mission is to keep your lights on safely, and we take our commitment to you very seriously. We are actively working with SPP and our response teams to bring additional power plants online to better serve our customers in the future.
While we always aim to give you advance notice of any outages, this emergency situation did not allow us the time to inform you beforehand. Our grid operators were directed to take immediate action to protect the overall system, which is why you may not have received prior notification.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to improve your experience.
WHAT IS SOUTHWEST POWER POOL (SPP) AND WHAT ROLE DO THEY PLAY?
SPP serves as the Balancing Authority and Reliability Coordinator for a 14-state region that includes SWEPCO's service territory in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Among SPP's responsibilities is working with owners and operators of generation and transmission facilities to operate the regional power grid within safe limits and to maintain the balance between supply and demand of wholesale electricity.
- Forced Outages - One of the tools at SPP’s disposal is a controlled service interruption. This is a step only taken as a last resort when it's necessary to mitigate the risk of longer-lasting and wider-spread uncontrolled outages. In these rare occasions, SPP coordinates with local utilities to temporarily reduce the amount of aggregate electricity being consumed in an area for only as long as is required to maintain regional grid reliability.
- Grid Monitoring - The Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) at SPP operates much like air traffic controllers in the aviation industry. Just as air traffic controllers do not own the airplanes, airlines, or airports, the RTO does not own utilities, power generators, or transmission lines. While they don't own the airspace they monitor, their role is crucial in directing air routes to ensure the safe transportation of airplanes and passengers. Similarly, the RTO oversees the regional bulk power grid, ensuring that electricity flows seamlessly from generation sources to where it is needed most. Their vigilant monitoring and direction help maintain the reliability and efficiency of the electrical system, much like air traffic controllers maintain safety in the skies.
SPP is essential for maintaining grid reliability through key activities such as monitoring the grid 24/7, anticipating problems, and taking preemptive action. When risks are detected, they direct SWEPCO and other utilities to take action, ensuring a coordinated regional response. Operating independently and complying with over 5,500 pages of reliability standards, the RTO plays a crucial role in delivering safe and reliable electricity to consumers.
STAYING CONNECTED
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