January 1, 2025 - A report shows coal remains a strong source of fuel for generation plants to provide electricity to the 14 states, including Oklahoma, that comprise the Southwest Power Pool.

A recent report from the SPP indicated that in the third quarter of 2024, coal was used more than wind. Natural gas fueled 33.9% of the electricity for Oklahoma and the 13 other states, followed by coal at 29.2%. Wind contributed 28.4%, nuclear 4.9%, and hydropower 3.0%.

In SPP’s 2023 annual report on energy production by source, wind generated 36.63% of the electricity consumed in the region that year; coal, 27.19%; natural gas, 26.76%; nuclear, 6.09%; hydro, 2.9%; solar, 0.2%; and other, 0.1%.

SPP relies upon a diverse fleet of approximately 1,000 generating plants to produce energy to meet the demand for electricity in the region. The movement of electricity from where it’s produced to where it’s needed depends on a network of 72,820 miles of extra-high-voltage transmission lines within SPP's territory.

The SPP believes that, based on assessment results, there is a 98.5% probability it will have sufficient resources to meet the projected peak demand for electricity and maintain energy reserves throughout the upcoming winter season. SPP further anticipates an even greater chance that it can meet region-wide demand with the help of reserves if needed.

SPP EEA Level 1 refers to an “Energy Emergency Alert Level 1” declared by the Southwest Power Pool, signifying that while the grid currently has enough generation to meet demand, conditions exist that could potentially put required operating reserves at risk if they worsen, essentially indicating the first stage of a potential energy shortage; it does not typically require immediate public conservation measures at this level.

SPP experienced EEA1 events three times prior to Aug. 26, 2024: on Aug. 6, 2019; during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021; and during Winter Storm Elliot in December 2022.

SPP issued a Conservative Operations Advisory for its entire Balancing Authority on five dates: July 16, Aug. 1, Aug. 2, Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. On Aug. 26, SPP declared an EEA Level 1 for the entire Balancing Authority area from 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time to 3:00 p.m. CST. The EEA1 was declared due to high temperatures across much of the 14-state service territory, combined with low region-wide wind output and generation and transmission outages that produced narrow margins in available generating capacity.