“Rolling blackouts” could be the phrase of the summer.
City Water Light and Power’s Amber Sabin and Doug Brown updated the city council Tuesday. – including Ald. Jim Donelan (DAHN-lun) – on what they may expect if there’s too much pressure on the region’s power grid.
“Do you have a feel for what, on a percentage basis,” asked Donelan, “the likelihood of something this summer would be?”
“All we know is that MISO said there’s some risk,” said Sabin, referring to the Mid-continent Independent System Operator. “July has the highest risk, and it’s going to increase with more plant retirements next year. And, because of the factors that influence the grid – weather, usage, transmission constraints, a plant going offline – we can’t really pinpoint it.”
Brown (pictured, left) and Sabin said they anticipate notice of a 15-minute blackout would be the day of, and that meetings are forthcoming with leaders of Springfield’s medical community.