SPP said last week it was once again delaying in-person meetings and staff’s return to the office because of rising COVID-19 infections and flu cases.
In a Dec. 28 message to stakeholders, CEO Barbara Sugg said SPP is cancelling the in-person option for the Jan. 10-11 Markets and Operations Policy Committee and Jan. 12 Strategic Planning Committee meetings in Oklahoma City. Those meetings will revert to the virtual format of the last two years.
The Jan. 24 Regional State Committee and Jan. 25 Board of Directors/Members Committee meetings are still planned to be held at SPP’s headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., although attendance will be limited for social distancing.
“I know this means that I will not get to see many of you in-person as soon as I hoped, but I’m confident our team will continue to facilitate virtual meetings with their usual standard of excellence,” Sugg wrote. “Be well and stay safe.”
Sugg cited a “dramatic trend” in COVID-19 infections and flu cases. She said daily new COVID cases have nearly doubled in Oklahoma since Dec. 18 and recent hospitalizations in Arkansas increased 7% in a day.
“Although early data seems to show the Omicron variant is unlikely to severely affect healthy, boosted people, we still do not know what its impact will be on older, at-risk colleagues, friends and family,” Sugg said.
The grid operator is also delaying the fourth phase of staff’s return to the Little Rock offices until at least Jan. 18 while it continues to monitor community COVID cases. It warned its plans may undergo additional modifications “to appropriately respond to changing conditions.”
