Statements
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.
