Sioux Falls, SD  (MRES) – The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is no longer under an Energy Emergency Alert for its entire 14-state area.

Missouri River Energy spokeswoman Joni Livingston said generation is currently sufficient to serve system-wide demand across the region.

She said we continue to urge all homes and businesses throughout our 14-state region to conserve electricity, but are not directing any interruptions of service at this time. She added, (SPP) remains in a period of conservative operations until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, for the entire (SPP) balancing authority area.

Thank you to all (MRES) members who worked to voluntarily reduce load in your community through load management, conservation, media notices, and other means. A very special thanks to those members who managed rolling blackouts in your communities for the greater good of the electric grid. Those members include Denison, Iowa; Moorhead, Minnesota; Valley City, North Dakota; and Winner, South Dakota.

Previously…

Valley City Administrator, Gwen Crawford says the Power Emergency level has been reduced from Level 3 to Level 1, which indicates  the chance of rolling black outs continuing is lessening.

City officials were not notified when the blackout will occur, however officials now report that advance notification of a blackout will happen, but be alert for possible rolling blackouts.

Valley City  (CSi)  Stemming from rolling electrical blackouts, the Valley City Public Works Department is asking residents to limit water usage until further notice, during the time of the blackouts.

Mayor Carlsrud encourages residents to conserve energy during this time.

The rolling blackouts were reported to be occurring in North Dakota and other parts of the country.  The electrical outage, cuts power to the sewage lift stations.

The City of Valley City is informing residents that some areas have been without power stemming from mandatory rolling electrical blackouts.

The city reports extreme cold throughout the state and country has made the state of North Dakota implement mandatory rolling blackouts. Each blackout is expected to last between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.

Sioux Falls, SD (MRES) – The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) downgraded their Energy Emergency Alert for its entire 14-state balancing authority area.

Missouri River Energy spokeswoman Joni Livingston said generation is currently sufficient to serve system-wide demand across the region and to fully satisfy operating reserve requirements.

She said we continue to urge all homes and businesses throughout our 14-state region to conserve electricity, but are not directing any interruptions of service at this time.

Livingston said based on the current MRES wind and weather forecasts, it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, we are still at risk with each peak period.