A recent power outage impacting over 100,000 customers in Louisiana on May 25th was triggered by system limitations, according to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). MISO attributes the forced outage to a threshold being reached within the transmission system, necessitating a “load shed”—a deliberate reduction of power—to avert a broader grid collapse. The affected area is described as a “load pocket,” characterized by restricted electricity supply due to transmission constraints.

The event unfolded rapidly; a Transmission System Emergency was declared at 4:02 p.m., followed by instructions to Entergy and CLECO to initiate power cuts just 19 minutes later, at 4:21 p.m. Power was gradually restored between 7:36 p.m. as demand lessened. MISO acknowledges the disruption was regrettable but maintains it was essential to prevent a potential cascading system failure, noting that officials received less than 30 minutes’ advance warning.

While MISO oversees grid coordination across 15 states, local utilities like Entergy New Orleans and CLECO maintain and manage the physical transmission infrastructure. The operator reports managing several challenges in the days prior, including planned generator downtime and weather-related disruptions to high-voltage lines.

Looking ahead, MISO has identified areas for improvement, including enhancing real-time coordination with utilities, streamlining communication with local governments, and strengthening monitoring capabilities to proactively identify and mitigate similar risks. The organization is collaborating with Entergy, CLECO, and the Louisiana Public Service Commission to refine response protocols and minimize the likelihood of future incidents.