The city of Luverne’s standby generator in the power plant was called into service Monday to help support a regional power grid under pressure from a record cold snap in the south.
Winter storm “Uri” with frigid temperatures is moving slowly eastward across the southern part of the states dropping snow – and temperatures — as far south as the Gulf of Mexico.
Millions of homes and businesses in 10 states were without power Monday evening and the Southwestern Power Pool, which manages electricity transmission across parts of 14 states, warned that demand had exceeded its electric supply.
It told its members to begin controlled outages and reached out to member utilities for helping to generate power for the grid.
Missouri River Energy Services, which provides power for the city of Luverne, has been asked to help supply power.
SPP also asked MRES to prepare for unannounced rolling outages in order to manage electrical transmission across the grid.
As of Tuesday, city leaders weren’t sure that would happen in Luverne, residents and businesses were made aware of the possibility, and emergency management officials were on notice as well.
MRES pays the city $75,000 per year to keep its generators in working condition for backup power in peak usage times.
The standby generator at the power plant on East Main Street began supplying power Monday afternoon and will continue running around the clock as long as it’s needed.
Two-man crews are working alternate shifts to monitor the generator and keep it fueled. Late Monday a tanker truck carrying 7,500 gallons showed up at the power plant.
City utility supervisor Brian Remme said Luverne supplies power through the generator on a quarterly basis, per its contract with MRES, but he said this activity is unprecedented.
“I haven’t seen it in my time here,” Remme said.
MRES is paying for the fuel and other expenses related to Luverne’s generator operation.
Mayor Pat Baustian said the backup generator is started every month to make sure it will generate power when needed.
He also said he can’t remember a time when the Luverne generator was used in this capacity to support a widespread power shortage.
“This is pretty big,” Baustian said. “Because power is going to the grid to help out with the energy load under stress down south.”