Important Information About Electricity Load Shedding and What It Could Mean to You
Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is a regional transmission organization (RTO): a nonprofit corporation mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices on behalf of its members.
When electric supply provided by all available power generation plants, (thermal and renewable generation resources) and other sources becomes insufficient to meet the demand, SPP begins emergency operations. During a power emergency when electric supply cannot meet consumer demand for electricity and all other operational tools have been exhausted, the demand for electricity must be reduced to avoid uncontrolled blackouts. As a last resort, SPP will instruct electric utilities to implement controlled customer outages to reduce the demand for electricity on the SPP grid. This is referred to as load shed and will last until the power emergency is resolved by SPP.
Typically, before calling for controlled customer outages, SPP takes steps to reduce the demand on the electric grid by asking all types of consumers to reduce electric usage. Electric utilities, including Rusk County Electric Cooperative (RCEC), via RCEC’s SPP Transmission Operator, American Electric Power (AEP), are obligated to immediately implement load shed procedures when SPP instructs.
During customer load shed events:
- All members should assume their power could go out without advanced warning. Efforts will be made, as much as possible, to provide advanced notification of pending outages, but circumstances do not always allow that to happen.
- Members designated as Critical Load, in accordance with PUC guidelines, are not guaranteed an uninterrupted supply of electricity. It is the responsibility of the retail member to make necessary arrangements for alternative sources of electric power should a localized outage or load shed event occur.
- Residential members dependent on electric-powered medical equipment, such as those designated as Critical Care, Medical Priority, or Chronic Condition, in accordance with PUC guidelines, are encouraged to have a solid back-up plan in the event they lose electricity. It is important to note that these members are not excluded from controlled outages and may lose power during a load shed event. Anyone who depends on electricity for life-sustaining equipment should have a back-up plan in place.
- Electric utilities will prioritize continuity of service for certain accounts whose service is critical to the community during an emergency or those whose service provides major support to the integrity of the electric system during an emergency. Examples include hospitals and certain public safety accounts.
- Because a load shed event is an emergency order from SPP based on a shortfall of electricity being generated, electric utilities, including RCEC / AEP, do not have the information to be able to notify individual members if they may lose power, when they may lose power or how long the load shed event may last.
- In extreme power emergencies, SPP may require electric utilities to shed large amounts of load over long periods of time. In these instances, electric utilities like RCEC / AEP may not have the ability to rotate outages without risking the stability of the entire electric grid. When this happens, some members may be without power for an extended period of time. These outages are critical for ensuring the integrity of the state’s electric grid and preventing a system-wide blackout, which could be long-lasting and have a significant impact on all aspects of life.
- Electric utilities are required to continue to comply with SPP controlled customer outage instructions until SPP determines that outages are no longer required.
- The Public Utility Commission of Texas website (Hot and Cold Weather, and General Energy-Saving Tips) provides examples for members to reduce electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented.
Regardless of the nature of the load shedding event, Rusk County Electric Cooperative, and the Cooperative’s SPP Transmission Operator (AEP) are committed to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to its members 24 hours-per-day, 7 days-per-week. While we may not control the issues or conditions that have required SPP’s order to shed load, we will do everything in our power to restore electricity when we are able to safely do so. In addition, we will work to keep our members informed about the situation through local media outlets, social media, and direct communications to you.
