KMEA Members Support Grid Reliability During SPP Resource Advisory

On Friday, July 24th, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) issued a Resource Advisory for the East Balancing Authority footprint from July 25th through July 30th due to high electricity demand, forecast uncertainty, and extreme heat. As system conditions tightened during the week, SPP called on available resources to help maintain grid reliability. On Tuesday, July 28th, KMEA responded by dispatching all available registered generating units during the afternoon and evening peak periods.

KMEA member units across Baldwin City, Ottawa, Garden City, Russell, Chapman, Girard, Holton, Jetmore, and Sterling were brought online to support the grid. On July 28 alone, 16 generating units produced approximately 372.7 MWh of energy. Additional generation continued on July 29, with units in Ottawa and Holton producing another 50.7 MWh.

In total, the available generation data shows members provided more than 423 MWh of energy during the advisory period, helping SPP meet increased demand caused by severe summer temperatures.

KMEA’s ability to dispatch local generation during periods of system stress demonstrates the value of member-owned resources and their role in supporting both local communities and regional grid reliability.