Resources perform reliably during July heat wave

A July heat wave brought consecutive days of extreme temperatures throughout the region and, with it, elevated electricity demand and rapidly changing market conditions across the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) footprint.

For Great River Energy, the heat wave reinforced the importance of maintaining a diverse portfolio of resources capable of responding when members need power most.

As temperatures and humidity increased, Great River Energy’s generation and transmission assets performed reliably as air conditioning use and electricity demand intensified across the region.

All available Great River Energy peaking plants were dispatched during the period, helping maintain reliability and protect members from high wholesale market prices. These plants also provided additional value when not operating by remaining available to start quickly and offer ancillary services that support grid operations.

The heat wave also highlighted the complementary nature of the cooperative’s power supply portfolio. While wind facilities remained available, lower-than-normal wind speeds limited production during portions of the heat wave. Solar production across the region was also reduced by wildfire smoke. At the same time, energy hedge products provided fixed-price energy that helped reduce exposure to volatile market prices.

Another key factor was Great River Energy and its members’ extensive load modifying resources program, one of the largest of its kind in the country. These programs reduce electricity use during peak pricing or reliability events, helping support both the grid and cooperative members during periods of high demand.

One of the biggest challenges during the heat wave was increased volatility across the MISO system. Rapid changes in load, generation availability and hourly energy prices created a dynamic operating environment for grid operators. Despite these challenges, the power supply portfolio performed as intended and helped position Great River Energy to meet members’ needs.