The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an emergency order covering Arkansas and 16 other states as extreme heat continues to place increased demand on the region’s electrical grid.
The order, issued July 26, allows the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) to dispatch certain generation units and authorize backup generation resources if needed to maintain reliability and reduce the risk of power interruptions.
Arkansas is among the states included in the order, which applies throughout the SPP region.
Other states covered include Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
The Department of Energy said the emergency declaration was issued after a request from SPP, which manages grid reliability across its service territory.
According to the order, SPP reported concerns about increased electricity demand, potential reductions in wind and solar generation, possible generation outages and continued hot weather conditions affecting the region.
SPP had previously issued operational advisories as forecasts showed higher-than-normal demand and uncertainty surrounding available generation resources.
The DOE order authorizes SPP to use specified generation resources when necessary and to direct backup generation resources — including auxiliary, standby and battery storage resources — as a last resort before an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 or during such an emergency.
An Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 is the highest level of grid emergency and may involve measures such as controlled power interruptions if available resources are not enough to meet demand.
The order states the additional resources are intended to help maintain reliable electricity service and prevent potential impacts to homes and businesses during the heat wave.
The emergency order took effect July 26 at 12:22 p.m. Central Daylight Time and is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. CDT on Aug. 3, unless extended.
The DOE order notes SPP expects hot weather conditions contributing to grid stress could continue through Aug. 3.
SPP serves as both the Reliability Coordinator and Balancing Authority for its region, meaning it is responsible for coordinating electricity generation and maintaining the balance between power supply and demand.
