Rolling power blackouts were part of life across the state of Kansas for a while Monday afternoon.
It’s the latest sign of extreme cold conditions that settled in over the weekend and it follows an announcement from the Southwest Power Pool that it was in an Energy Emergency Level 3, the highest alert status for energy use, for about two hours before reverting to Level 2.
With Level 3 status, providers across the Power Pool’s 17-state region, including those in Kansas, could interrupt service much like a rolling blackout if needed. Kansas Corporation Commission executive Andrew French says everything was coordinated through the Power Pool.
Evergy turned off electricity to blocks of customers for 30-60 minutes at a time, while rolling blackouts affected parts of the 4 Rivers coverage area as well. General Manager Dennis Svanes says there is a chance we could go back to Phase 3 with air temperatures possible at -15 or below overnight.
The city of Emporia will be utilizing White Auditorium as a warming center from 5 pm Monday until 8 am Tuesday. Fell says the auditorium is an ideal location due to its capacity allowance and back up generator in the event of a blackout or power outage.
Fell did clarify the auditorium is only be used as a warming center and thus will not have additional services such as lodging and foodservice.
Those needing to utilize the warming station either due to a rolling blackout or other weather-related power outages should enter from the 6th street entrance on the north side of the building. In addition to White Auditorium, the Lee Beran Recreation Center will also be utilized as a warming station from 8 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Friday so long as they are not impacted by power outages.
COVID-19 protocols will be in place at both locations with social distancing and mask-wearing required.
If we see another round of blackouts, residents are told not to call their electric provider if they experience an outage. Instead, they need to track their status online if that option is available.
1 pm Monday: Rolling energy blackouts underway with high energy use, frozen supply due to extreme cold
Emporia and Lyon County are discussing possible shelter plans now that the bitterly cold air in place has triggered rolling power blackouts across the state.
KDEM says the Southwest Power Pool, which involves all electric providers in Kansas, is now in an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3, the highest alert status for energy usage. This means providers can interrupt service much like a rolling blackout if needed. Interruption periods could take “a small number of hours,” but with temperatures at -10 or lower overnight, it won’t take long for people to get cold or develop health issues like frostbite.
Evergy has confirmed it plans to turn off electricity to blocks of customers for 30-60 minutes at a time, and that process started at 12:15 pm. It has not confirmed the range of customers to be affected. Power outages have already been reported in northwest Emporia near Timmerman Elementary and in Plymouth.
4 Rivers, meanwhile, says rolling blackouts have started affecting parts of its coverage area. 4 Rivers says those are planned at the distribution level, so the cooperative can’t say when they will start.
Residents are told not to call their electric provider if they experience an outage. Instead, they need to track their status online if that option is available.
City and county officials are discussing potential shelter options for residents given the extreme cold and ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols. Plans have not been announced at this time.
Demand for energy has spiked at a time when supply has literally frozen, thanks to the brutally cold Arctic air now gripping an area from Minnesota south to Texas. The Southwest Power Pool says the combination has led to more energy demand than it can provide. In fact, Kansas Electric Cooperatives CEO Lee Tafanelli says record-breaking demand could take place through Wednesday morning.
Numerous energy companies, including Evergy, Kansas Gas, 4 Rivers and Atmos Energy, have asked residents to conserve energy in the meantime. Managing Vice President of Operations for Kansas Gas Service Kent Shortridge says there are a number of ways customers can do this.
Governor Laura Kelly has a news conference at 2:30 pm Monday to discuss the state’s response in more detail. We will cover that live on KVOE and KVOE.com.
