SPP issued a Level 1 energy emergency alert Aug. 26, saying widespread high temperatures in the Great Plains led to tightening reliability conditions in its 14-state balancing authority area (BAA). 

With all available generation dispatched to meet regionwide demand, the grid operator issued the EEA 1 at 12:30 p.m. (CT). It did not say when the alert would be over. 

The RTO said that while it has enough generation available to meet demand and fulfill its reserve obligations, conditions existed that could put reserves at risk if they worsened. Declaring an EEA 1 does not require energy conservation or indicate a need for load shed, it said.  

Kansas, in the middle of SPP’s footprint, was under a heat advisory into Aug. 27, with heat index values rising up to 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.  

SPP previously declared a conservative operations advisory for the BAA Aug. 26, effective 11 a.m. CT until an anticipated end at 8 p.m. CT., and a resource advisory from 11 a.m. Aug. 26 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27. 

The RTO has called or extended 21 various advisories since March. 

Demand was just over 51 GW at 3 p.m. Aug. 26, according to Grid Status, with prices at about $29/MWh. SPP’s record for peak demand is 55.89 GW, set in August 2023. 

The grid operator last declared an EEA 1 in August 2019. 

SPP neighbor MISO was operating under a maximum generation warning Aug. 26. It was expecting scarce conditions into Aug. 27.