The Tennessee Valley Authority broke an all-time February power demand record Thursday morning with an estimated 32,109 megawatts at 6 a.m. when the average temperature across the region hovered at 7 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 TVA-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 regions’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.”
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.