The Southwest Power Pool has declared a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert, which is the highest alert level.
This means that its “operating reserves are below the required minimum,” officials said in a press release.
According to The Southwest Power Pool website, he “manages the grid in 17 states in the central and western United States and provides contract-based energy services to customers.” That includes Oklahoma.
According to a press release, Southwest Power Pool “instructed its member utilities to prepare to implement controlled service interruptions, if necessary”.
“Controlled service interruptions are the last resort and a measure we take only when necessary to safeguard the continued reliability of the regional network,” said SPP executive vice president and chief operating officer, Lanny Nickell.
That could mean continuous blackouts for Oklahoma residents, according to PSO officials.
According to a tweet from Southwest Power Pool, the company is directing member utilities to implement controlled service interruptions with immediate effect.
PSO-Oklahoma, OG&E and all the other energy companies connected to the southwestern grid are in the same situation.
They are asking customers to limit their use of electricity, to reduce demand, so they can avoid being forced to shut down some circuits.
Stan Whiteford of PSO-Oklahoma said that “the idea would be, if we get to that point, that we can unload the cargo, but not leave customers in the dark for long, for an hour at most.”
OG&E also asked customers to save energy by posting on social media.
OG&E said that there are small steps that customers can take:
“[S]et thermostats lower than normal, if health permits; avoid using large electrical appliances; turn off lights and devices you don’t need or are not using. “