TVA sets new power demand record on very cold day

January 23rd, 2025

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: After warning homeowners and businesses about the expected demand for power Wednesday morning, the Tennessee Valley Authority says they delivered on their highest power demand day ever, peaking at 35,319 megawatts at 9:00am ET.

That beats the previous record-setting demand day on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 8:00am during a winter storm.

The week has been a cold one with low temperatures in the single-digits for some parts of the Tennessee Valley.

“We have continued to harden our system for the weather and learn from each extreme cold event,” said Greg Henrich, TVA senior vice president, Grid. “We enhance our procedures every year to keep the power system stable and reliable during extreme temperatures. It’s a testament to our TVA employees who work around the clock in the elements to provide power and make sure 10 million people are safe and warm. We also appreciate all of our partners in the Tennessee Valley — residents and businesses — who heeded TVA’s call to conserve power during the peak morning hours on Wednesday. Working together, we were able to make history.”

The TVA says the area's fast-growing population, which they say is three-times the national average, is forcing them to expand their power-generating capabilities.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and EPB are asking customers to save power as the cold snap in the southeast US leads to a higher demand for electricity.

Here's how TVA is getting ready for the upcoming winter weather.

TVA and EPB ask that customers reduce their power use, especially on Wednesday, January 22, from 6:00am to 10:00am, the peak time period for power usage during the winter season.

A TVA spokesperson said the agency is monitoring weather conditions and the power system remains stable.

A rare frigid storm is charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow, closing highways and grounding nearly all flights. School was canceled Tuesday for students in areas more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days. The storm prompted the first ever blizzard warnings for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border. Heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected around the Deep South as a blast of Arctic air plunges much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze. Nearly 2,000 flights to, from or within the U.S. have been canceled and about 10,000 more are delayed.

The request to reduce power usage during the specific time on Wednesday is not indicative of TVA "experiencing emergency conditions”.

WATCH: Georgia officials to update public amid State of Emergency due to winter weather
The briefing that is scheduled to begin at 10:30am.

"TVA has been preparing for winter demand all year. Our seasonal readiness program kicked off in September as our hydro, gas, and coal generating sites conducted hundreds of items to make sure we are prepared to meet peak demand. TVA invested more than $430 million in fiscal year 2024 to harden the system overall,” TVA said in a press release.

TVA and EPB offer the following tips to cut back on energy use during the peak times:

Set your thermostat to 65-68 degrees. Each degree you lower your thermostat can save you as much as 3 percent on your monthly energy bill.
Postpone use of your clothes dryer, dishwasher, and stove/oven during peak times.
Turn off non-essential appliances and lights during peak times.
Commercial Business: Turn off any lights and office equipment (or place in sleep mode) when not in use and turn off heating outside of business hours.

TVA said it will provide updates to the public as conditions evolve due to continued freezing temperatures.

Posted in Local News