The Department of Energy issued an emergency order Sunday, July 26, directing the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) — the grid operator serving a huge swath of the central U.S. — to dispatch backup generation units to prevent blackouts as extreme heat pushes electricity demand to unusual highs. The order runs through August 3.
Seventeen states are covered: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming — a region stretching from North Dakota to Louisiana, serving roughly 20 million people.
SPP had already been under a "Conservative Operations Advisory" since July 20, repeatedly extended due to forecast uncertainty, high demand, seasonal heat, and potential low wind and solar output. The new order authorizes SPP to use backup generation as a last resort to head off a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert — the highest tier, meaning rolling blackouts are imminent or already occurring. The DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup energy is available across the region.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the emergency as a consequence of what he called the "previous administration’s energy subtraction policies," saying the current administration is "tapping into an abundant supply of unused backup generation" to keep the grid stable. The DOE separately notes that power outages cost Americans an estimated $44 billion annually.
⚡ In this video:
Which 17 states are under the emergency order
Why the grid is under this much strain right now
What "Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert" actually means
What this means if you live in the affected region
#PowerGrid #HeatWave #EnergyEmergency #SPP #WeatherNews
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5759717953503232
About the Author
