C2 Waiver
Hays, KS Oct. 30, 2022 — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released an order accepting the Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) transmission tariff revisions on Oct. 28, 2022. The revisions establish a cost allocation waiver process through which the cost of new transmission buildout ordered by SPP can be allocated to those benefitting from the construction.
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, along with other electric entities in areas with high levels of wind penetration, have since 2018 sought a very narrow revision to the 2010 highway/byway cost allocation provisions in SPP’s tariff. Sunflower provided evidence that in some circumstances the previous tariff forced local ratepayers to shoulder the cost of transmission buildout not in proportion to the benefits received. (Sunflower’s press statement)
“The approved tariff revisions create a process with strict criteria, making it applicable in limited circumstances. Projects that qualify will clearly represent situations of unfair cost burdens that must be corrected, and Sunflower is proud to have led and advocated for relief on behalf of electric consumers in affected areas,” said Dr. Al Tamimi, vice president of transmission policy and planning at Sunflower.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Sunflower assesses damage from Dec.16 wind storm
Hays, Kan.–Dec. 16, 2021–At Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, one of our goals is to serve our members while also providing a safe workplace as we manage our day-to-day operations. However, like many others in our area, we are dealing with the effects of the high winds that affected our area.
Yesterday’s extreme, sustained winds across our service territory caused damage across the system. A wind anemometer at Holcomb Station measured a gust at 97 mph.
The storm damaged or destroyed approximately 30 high voltage transmission structures with 18 of those located on a 115 kV line segment near Scott City. The winds also damaged exterior and interior walls on a cooling tower at one of our electric generating stations. Crews continue to assess the damage.
All of Sunflower’s 115 kV or higher voltage substations are energized. We anticipate that transmission system damage will be repaired across the weekend.
For your safety, please stay away from any downed power lines and assume all lines are energized. Report any outages or downed structures to your local distribution utility.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our Members and those they serve.
Unified Greeley County completes Sunflower’s site certification
Hays, Kan.— Oct. 18, 2021— Unified Greeley County completed the site certification process for a light industrial property in Tribune, Kan. Unified Greeley County, in conjunction with Greeley County Community Development, submitted the necessary information to qualify it for certification through Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s Certified Sites Program.
“We’re excited to have Unified Greeley County’s first certified site through the Sunflower Certified Sites Program. This 24-acre tract of land is conveniently located adjacent to the city of Tribune and provides an excellent opportunity for development,” said Christy Hopkins, director for Greeley County Community Development. “Unified Greeley County welcomes development and has ample space to facilitate growth. The certification of this site sends a message that our community is open for business and invites new opportunities to our area.”
Unified Greeley County is the second organization to complete the certification process for industrial development through Sunflower’s program.
“The addition of this tract of land in Tribune to Sunflower’s inventory of certified sites highlights the diversity of sites that can qualify for certification,” said Nikki Pfannenstiel, Sunflower’s manager of member services. “Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes, and completing due diligence on these sites in advance adds a competitive edge to a community’s effort to respond to potential opportunities.”
Sunflower developed its certified sites program to create greater awareness of industrial opportunities within its members’ service territories spanning central and western Kansas. A benefit of the Sunflower Certified Sites Program includes an independent third-party review of the site’s potential.
Chad Sayre, vice president at Allstate Consultants who performed the independent review, praised Greeley County’s efforts to participate in Sunflower’s program.
“It has been a pleasure working with Greeley County and the Sunflower team as they work to refine the Sunflower Certified Sites Program. Bringing the engineering and technical view to the process helps communities identify the potential these great sites possess,” Sayre said.
Communities that participate in Sunflower’s program are committed to strengthening their competitive edge and developing new opportunities for the region.
Sunflower continues to work with other communities within its member’s service territories to certify sites for industrial opportunities. With the addition of Greeley County’s site, Sunflower currently has 270 acres of land certified through the program. Download the full news release here.
Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp first to complete Sunflower’s site certification process
Hays, Kan.—March 18, 2021— Stamped for approval! The Dodge City Business Park became a certified site, which verifies that the 245-acre business park meets necessary criteria for industrial development. On March 11, the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation was the first organization to complete the site certification process through the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Certified Sites Program.
“I am excited to have the Dodge City Business Park certified as an approved, developable site under the Sunflower program. The thoroughness of their process brings great credibility to our site and community,” said Joann Knight, executive director for the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. Download the full news release here.
SPP continues to issue energy emergency alerts to help reduce demand on electricity
Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, at 9:20 a.m. — SPP is no longer under an energy emergency alert (EEA). Due to continuing high loads and other implications of severe cold weather, SPP remains in a period of conservative operations until 10 p.m. CST, Feb. 20, for the entire SPP balancing authority area.
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at 6:20 p.m. — The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) moved back to an EEA1. SPP continues to urge all homes and businesses throughout its 14-state region to conserve electricity.
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at 9:24 a.m. — The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has released the Energy Emergency Alert. We are no longer in an EEA of any level. Public appeals to conserve energy can be suspended. The public appeals and concerted efforts to reduce demand across the system made a big difference in our load. Much thanks for all your efforts. While technology has changed our world, people working together is still essential.
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at 11 p.m. — The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) moved back to an EEA1 following the upgrade to EEA2 that began earlier this evening at 6:20 p.m. SPP continues to urge all homes and businesses throughout its 14-state region to conserve electricity, but the SPP is not directing any interruptions of service at this time
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at 1:15 p.m. – The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has moved to an EEA1. The capacity situation is still tight and the alert level has changed from EEA1 to EEA2 several times over the last 24 hours. SPP may need to declare an EEA2 again at during this continued weather event. Electric utilities are encouraged to keep public appeals to conserve energy in place.
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at 6:58 p.m. — The SPP has again issued an EEA2, which calls for public conservation of electricity. Conditions on the electric grid remain strained due to the current weather pattern and the constraints on natural gas. Conserving electricity now can help avert a move to an EEA3, which would require scheduled electricity interruptions to balance the grid.
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at 7 a.m. — The public is asked to continue conserving electricity and prepare for electricity interruptions. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation was notified by the Southwest Power Pool that the14-state region is again in an Emergency Energy Alert Level 3 due to weather and resource conditions. An EEA3 means there is not currently enough electricity to serve the demand. Electric utilities have been ordered to implement scheduled interruptions. Please help by avoiding all unnecessary use of electricity. Thank you
Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 @3:10 p.m. — Sunflower Electric Power Corporation has issued public appeals for electric consumers in Kansas to reduce all unnecessary energy usage starting Sunday, Feb. 14, and continuing for the next few days.
Today, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages energy delivery over a 14-state region, issued an Energy Emergency Alert 3 (EEA3) due to the extreme weather conditions that are causing the tightening supplies of energy generation and natural gas.
An EEA3, the last of three levels, signals that electricity use has exceeded available generation in the SPP territory. After exhausting usage of available reserve energy, at 12:15 p.m. SPP directed its member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of service effective immediately to prevent further, more widespread and uncontrolled outages.
Each utility’s load-shed request varies, and Sunflower was directed by the SPP Balancing Authority to shed 14 megawatts of electricity due to lack of regional generation to cover electricity demand. Sunflower then implemented its rotating load-shed schedule, a schedule that limits the length of electricity interruptions throughout the system. When required to shed load, Sunflower will do its best to limit curtailed electricity interruptions to durations of 30-60 minutes. SPP’s load-shed order was rescinded by SPP at approximately 1:15 p.m., and all curtailed loads were restored. At 2 p.m., the SPP Balancing Authority returned the system to EEA Level 2, which calls for continued energy conservation but no imminent load curtailments.
Download the news release by clicking here.
Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at 11:31 a.m. — Sunflower Electric Power Corporation is issuing public appeals for electric consumers in Kansas (including those served by Lane-Scott, Pioneer, Southern Pioneer, Prairie Land, Victory, Western, and Wheatland Electric) to reduce all unnecessary electricity usage starting now and continuing for the next few days.
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages energy delivery over a 14-state region, has now issued an Energy Emergency Alert 3 (EEA3) due to the extreme weather conditions that are causing the tightening supplies of electricity and natural gas.
An EEA3, the highest of three levels, signals that SPP is operating with reserves below the required minimum and may order member utilities to curtail energy use through controlled interruptions of service. If this occurs, SPP will direct its member to reduce their energy consumption by a particular amount, and it will be up to each individual utility to determine how best to achieve the load reduction based on their emergency operating plans.
Please help conserve energy to keep electricity flowing.
Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 at 8:47 a.m. — Electric consumers in Kansas are requested to be very conservative with electricity usage starting now and continuing for the next few days. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation has been alerted that the region has moved from an Energy Emergency Alert Level One to Alert Level Two due to the extreme weather conditions that are causing the tightening supplies of energy generation and natural gas. Those served by Lane-Scott, Pioneer, Southern Pioneer, Prairie Land, Victory, Western, and Wheatland Electric cooperatives are asked to conserve energy for the next several days.
You can help protect the energy supply across the region, and avoid possible scheduled energy interruptions, by doing things such as turning down your thermostat and avoiding the use of your oven and clothes dryer. Please contact your local electric utility if you have questions about the request to conserve energy for the next several days.
Click here to download the news release from SPP
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 at 7:32 p.m. — Electric consumers in Kansas are asked to conserve energy beginning at 12:01 a.m. central time on Monday, Feb. 15. Midwest Energy and Sunflower Electric Power Corporation have been alerted that the extreme weather conditions have led to tightening electric supplies across a 14-state region. Those served by Midwest Energy, Lane-Scott, Pioneer, Southern Pioneer, Prairie Land, Victory, Western, and Wheatland Electric cooperatives are asked to conserve energy for the next several days.
You can help protect the energy supply across the region by doing things such as turning down your thermostat and avoiding the use of your oven and clothes dryer. Please contact your local electric utility if you have questions about the request to conserve energy for the next several days.
Click here to download the media release pdf.
Tuesday, March 17
Sunflower Vendors:
As you know, the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic related to the coronavirus, and there are confirmed cases in Kansas. Sunflower wants to keep you—an important partner in our mission to provide reliable, affordable energy services to our member-owners—apprised of the steps we are taking to keep our staff, partners, and members safe and to keep our operations running smoothly.
Sunflower has a Pandemic Threat Mitigation Plan, which includes action phases that address escalating conditions should those occur. At the present time we are in the Preparation Phase, a phase that allows for normal business activities while taking proactive measures to mitigate spread of the virus.
The Preparation Phase guidelines instruct staff on heightened personal hygiene practices, travel restrictions, and sick leave recommendations. The Preparation Phase also includes limiting in-person and on-site visits with vendors and others unless necessary. Instead, we are opting for electronic or telephone meetings when possible. Therefore, to help keep you and our staff safe, until further notice in-person visits to Sunflower locations will be limited to those visits deemed essential. In-person presence of vendor staff supporting work associated with the ongoing Holcomb outage is deemed essential. Please submit all invoices electronically.
As this issue continues to evolve, Sunflower management will adjust our approach to the challenge as warranted. We will keep you informed if those decisions further impact the way Sunflower interacts with you, our valued partner.
If you have questions, please call 785-623-3341.
Sincerely,
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation
Jan. 15, 2020 –
With Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s announcement today that that they will not pursue the development of an additional generating unit at Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s Holcomb Station, Sunflower announced that it will allow the existing air permit to expire on March 27, 2020.
Sunflower and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association began working together in 2005 on the Holcomb Expansion Project to provide their electric cooperative members with necessary baseload energy. Sunflower supported the development of the Project via a Purchase Option and Development Agreement (PODA) with Tri State, including the responsibility to secure a valid air permit for the Project. As part of the PODA, Sunflower could participate in the Project if developed and would have benefitted in multiple ways in addition to the production of energy.
Like Tri-State, Sunflower’s energy needs have changed since the inception of the Project, and the Project is not presently needed for Sunflower to fulfill its responsibilities to its Members.
Thursday, November 17, 2017
Sunflower announces notice of the annual Sunflower Local Planning Meeting. This meeting is part of the Southwest Power Pool tariff. The public is welcome to attend.
Meeting Details:
Date: November 13, 2019
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Rose Garden Banquet Hall (Ballroom) – 2350 E 8th Street, Hays, KS
Friday, March. 17, 2017 at 2:02 p.m.
Sunflower is pleased that the Kansas Supreme Court approved the addendum to the Holcomb Expansion air permit. Much work—by the Court, KDHE technical staff, and Sunflower staff—has gone into making certain that the HEP air permit meets all applicable state and federal requirements. Just as it would have been ten years ago when we began this process, the Court’s decision is another incremental step in the process. Sunflower and Tri-State will continue to assess the project relative to other resources to meet the long-term power needs of our Member co-ops.
Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 at 6:32 p.m.
Ice continued to melt and fall off transmission lines this morning causing additional structural damage and isolated transmission interruptions in the Ford area of the system service territory. Crews replaced several 115 kV structures and numerous structural components on other structures between Dodge City and Greensburg over the last 48 hours. Crews are fighting muddy conditions as they work to repair system storm damage. The Buckner-to-Spearville 345 kV line is out of service due to a failed reactor in the Buckner Substation. Crews are expected to have all 115 kV line segments back into service this evening and will continue to troubleshoot the 345 kV system.
Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 @ 6:30 p.m.
Ice continues to melt and fall off transmission lines in Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s service area which, can cause transmission service interruptions. A 115 kV line segment from North Fort Dodge-to-Ford is out of service with one structure being replaced. That segment is expected to be back in service this evening. Two 115 kV line segments from the Shooting Star substation are out of service. The first line segment from that substation to Ford has one structure down, and it is currently being replaced. The second line segment from Shooting Star-to-Greensburg has two broken cross arms that are being replaced. A 345 kV line segment from Buckner-to-Spearville is out of service. The cause of that outage has not yet been found, but linemen are continuing to patrol. All repairs are expected to be completed tonight.
Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at 2:25 p.m.
Bands of freezing rain, sleet and snow from Winter Storm Jupiter are dissipating and moving out of Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s service territory today. Wind speed is forecast to increase modestly as this storm wanes, but combined with significant accumulated ice, could cause damage to the transmission system. A single line segment, the North Fort Dodge-to-Ford 115 kV line, is out of service this morning due to a broken cross-arm, and the Spearville Substation is in an abnormal configuration due to storm-related relaying actions. As temperatures rise and large ice formations drop from system facilities, there is the possibility of additional physical damage or transmission interruptions. Considering the potential impact from this powerful winter storm, the Sunflower and Mid-Kansas systems have experienced only light damage so far.
Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at 10:51 a.m.
Bands of freezing rain from Winter Storm Jupiter are moving across Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s service territory today. Sunflower’s crews and contract crews are prepared to deploy if conditions result in transmission power outages. At this time, no transmission outages have been reported on Sunflower’s system.
Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunflower has made arrangements this afternoon with contractors to mobilize additional crews to areas of Sunflower’s service territory in advance of the approaching Winter Storm Jupiter. Sunflower crews have been preparing equipment and gathering materials in able to be available to rapidly deploy when called upon. A customizable weather tracking system, iNotify by CommPower, is also being utilized for the first time by Sunflower to provide valuable information to the operations team preparing for this significant winter storm.
Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 @ 12:35 p.m.
A winter storm is expected to affect the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation service area. In the event that inclement weather impacts our system, Sunflower will post necessary updates, storm outages, public service announcements or emergency alerts on this page. Learn more about how power is restored. For media inquiries contact Steven Hausler at (785) 623-6640.
