TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Evergy has started controlled blackouts Monday due to the extreme cold weather that won’t let up in Kansas.
“Beginning on February 15 at 12:15 p.m., Evergy will begin to turn off electricity to blocks of customers for approximately 30 – 60 minutes. Once the period has concluded, power will be restored to the impacted area. The emergency outages will then rotate to another portion of Evergy’s service area. Power will cycle off and on periodically until the reduction is no longer required by the SPP. With these extreme cold temperatures, equipment may not operate as intended. As a result, outages could last longer than 30 – 60 minutes.”
Evergy
The Southwest Power Pool, which provides electric grid coverage for the region with Evergy, declared an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3. This means the grid’s operating electric reserves are below their required minimum. The SPP has told Evergy to be ready to implement controlled blackouts if necessary.
“In our history as a grid operator, this is an unprecedented event and marks the first time Southwest Power Pool has ever had to call for controlled interruptions of service,” said SPP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lanny Nickell. “Controlled service interruptions are a last resort, and a step we take only when necessary to safeguard continued reliability of the regional grid.”
Source: KSNT Submitted by, ScottinManhattan
