TVA Meets All-Time System Peak Without Any Interruptions
July 26, 2005
TVA met the highest demand for electricity ever recorded in its seven-state service area Monday, July 25, exceeding the previous record by more than 1,500 megawatts without a single sustained interruption to its customers.
Based on initial readings, the TVA system met a demand of 31,703 megawatts at 4 p.m. CDT, when the average temperature across the Tennessee Valley region reached 94 degrees. The initial readings will be evaluated during the next few days, and the official peak may be adjusted slightly.
“Everyone involved in meeting the record power demand--the people at TVA and the people who distribute the power we supply—worked together to keep the system working reliably during this period of record power use,” said TVA President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Kilgore. “TVA’s generating and transmission systems performed exceptionally well. By keeping the generators and power delivery network at a high state of readiness, and by anticipating this heat wave, we were able to keep the lights on--and air conditioners running--for the people we serve.”
The peak follows several days of hot weather and heavy power demand in the TVA region. TVA's power system met more than 29,000 megawatts of demand for six consecutive days, which is a record for TVA. Power demand this past weekend was more than 7 percent higher than any weekend demands ever on the TVA system.
The demand is expected to be high again today, possibly setting another record. Cooler temperatures are expected in the TVA region later this week, lowering the power demand and providing some relief to the heat.
Kilgore said that meeting a peak demand above 31,000 megawatts was a challenge because power demand was high across the Southeast and the transmission grid was being heavily used.
Nearly all of TVA’s generating units were operating or available to meet the record power demand. This included all 59 fossil units, all five nuclear units, 106 of 109 hydro units, all four units at Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant and 70 of 72 combustion turbines.
The previous all-time system peak was 29,966 megawatts, which TVA met on July 13, 2004. The previous high this summer was 29,756 megawatts on June 30, which was a record for the month of June.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.5 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact
Gil Francis, (865) 632-8031
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
