The Tennessee Valley Authority and the 15-state grid operator for the Upper Midwest and south-central U.S. have struck a deal to share power during emergencies — a new effort to defend against the threats of extreme weather.
The filing with federal regulators, submitted by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, says the agreement would allow the two grid operators to purchase power from each other “during an emergency” and “for the sole purpose of supporting electric reliability.”
The partnership — which needs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s blessing to take effect — represents an evolving strategy in the energy sector, adapting to an era marked by heightened climate risks and major storms that severely stressed power grids across the U.S.
“Due to the changing configuration of the grid and recent emergency events, like Winter Storm Elliott, MISO and TVA have become increasingly focused on the need for additional coordination and planning to better ensure reliability in an emergency,” the filing said.
