KMEA members generate during Energy Emergency Alert 1 event

On August 26th, effective at 12:30 p.m., the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced an Energy Emergency Alert Level 1 (EEA 1) due to the forecast of high peak loads caused by high temperatures, an increase in resource outages, and low output from wind and other variable energy resources (also known as a low VER forecast) leading into the peak hours for the day. An EEA 1 declaration does not require the public to conserve energy and does not indicate that SPP will be directing controlled service outages. Instead, an EEA 1 is an indication that while SPP has enough generation available to meet demand and fulfill its reserve obligations, conditions exist that could put reserves at risk if they worsen.

Once notified, the KMEA 24-hour Operations group relayed the grid condition to all KMEA cities via email and additionally began contacting by phone all cities with non-registered generation to make them aware of the possibilities of dispatches. All of our registered generation was either online or dispatched for future hours of the day.

According to KMEA Operations Director Tom Saitta, “All our member cities asked to run did not hesitate, and all others stood ready to help. Our cities’ generation performed great with over 100 MW of generation at peak.”

SPP ended the EEA event at 3:00 p.m. with no non-registered generation being dispatched. In total, KMEA member cities generated approximately 503 MWh with a peak generation of 101 MW.