Federal Order Authorizes Backup Power During Extreme Heat

The U.S. Department of Energy has authorized additional electrical generation as extreme heat increases demand across the Southwest Power Pool.

The regional grid operator serves all or portions of 17 states, including Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The emergency order allows the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch specified power plants and activate backup generators at data centers and other large commercial and industrial facilities. Those backup resources are intended to be used as a last resort before or during the grid’s highest emergency-alert level.

Backup generators serving hospitals, emergency communications, water-treatment facilities and other critical operations are excluded.

The Energy Department says the order is intended to reduce stress on the grid and lower the possibility of power outages. No rolling outages have been ordered.

The authorization remains in effect through 11:59 P-M Central Time Monday, August 3rd, unless it is renewed. U.S. Department of Energy order