The Tennessee Valley Authority broke an all-time February power demand record Thursday morning with an estimated 32,109 megawatts at 7 a.m., when the average temperature across the region hovered at seven degrees.
In its 82-year history, this is TVA’s highest ever demand for the month of February. The previous record was 31,045 megawatts set on Feb. 5, 2009, when the Valley-wide temperature was 15 degrees. TVA’s all-time power demand record is 33,482 megawatts on Aug. 16, 2007.
Meeting the demand required the combined effort of TVA’s employees and generating facilities, coordination with the Valley’s 155 local power companies and large industrial customers, and the cooperation of businesses and households to conserve.
"It took a team effort of literally millions of people across the Valley to safely keep the lights and heat on, and we greatly appreciate the support of everyone who participated," said Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president of TVA Transmission and Power Supply. "Reliably providing electricity is a key part of TVA’s mission of service and consumers across the area should know they contributed to fulfilling that mission this morning.”
Although the highest demand period may have passed, temperatures across the valley are not expected to rise above freezing until at least Friday afternoon and the need for power remains high. While the bulk electric system remains secure and stable at this time, the public is being asked to continue to conserve power wherever possible through noon tomorrow.
TVA and many local power companies are continuing to lower the thermostat at their facilities, turn off unnecessary lights and equipment, and delay energy-consuming activities until Friday afternoon. Consumers can follow these same simple steps to save power now, and money on their energy bills later.
Additional energy saving tips can be found on TVA's EnergyRight Solutions website at http://www.energyright.com and by taking advantage of the new eScore home energy evaluation program sponsored by TVA and local power companies.