With the coldest temperatures in more than a year expected to arrive overnight Wednesday, the Tennessee Valley Authority and local power companies said they are working to ensure the availability of safe and reliable electricity.
Conserving power where possible is a first step. All consumers – residential, commercial and industrial customers - are being asked to join in, especially during the coldest period from Wednesday night through noon on Friday.
“As we have done through the last several rounds of cold weather, TVA will use all of our available generating sources to meet the expected high power demand, which will likely peak on Thursday morning,” said Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president of TVA Transmission and Power Supply. “As consumers of TVA power, we all can step up to help reduce power consumption and lower our own power bills at the same time.”
Saving power in cold weather doesn’t require drastic actions. Simply turning down the thermostat a single degree can save up to three percent on future power bills.
Beginning Wednesday, TVA will be following its own advice by lowering thermostats at its office buildings and other facilities, and many local power companies are doing the same.
Additional tips for saving on your power bill and reducing electric demand can be found on TVA’s EnergyRight Solutions website, and include:
- Opening the blinds on the south side of your home during sunny days, but keeping the blinds closed on cloudy days and at night.
- Postpone using electric appliances such as dishwashers, dryers and cooking equipment during peak power use times early in the morning and early in the evening.
- Turn off nonessential lights, appliances, electronics and other electrical equipment.
TVA’s bulk electric system remains secure and stable at this time. Wednesday evening’s peak power demand is expected to exceed 30,000 megawatts, as regional temperatures are forecast to drop into single digits. The biggest peak demand will likely occur Thursday morning with electric loads reaching nearly 33,000 megawatts. In comparison, demand was 32,751 megawatts during the height of the cold wave on Jan. 7.
EPB officials said due to the extremely cold weather and rising demand for electricity, EPB is conserving power and is asking for participation from others in the community.
Several of EPB’s large industrial and commercial customers are already reducing their non-essential power consumption, while EPB’s headquarters and other offices are operating in partial darkness to help reduce the community’s power usage during this critical time.
As the Tennessee Valley Authority, EPB and other power distributors conserve power, residential customers are encouraged to join the community effort. If possible, people are encouraged to lower thermostats a degree or two, reduce usage of major appliances during peak demand in the early evening and morning hours, and turn off all nonessential lighting.
“We want to thank our customers for their understanding and cooperation during these extreme conditions,” said EPB spokesman John Pless.