The Tennessee Valley Authority sets a new electricity demand record as temperatures plummet across its service area
Knoxville: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) just hit a record high for electricity demand on January 22. It was a chilly day, with temperatures dropping to single digits across the region.
They delivered a whopping 35,319 megawatts, enough to power over 20 million homes! This beat their previous record set just a year ago. They shared the news on X around noon.
The peak demand happened at 9 a.m. ET when the average temperature was just 11 degrees. TVA credited their success to a mix of energy sources, teamwork, and the community’s efforts.
To manage the demand, TVA asked local customers, including those served by the Knoxville Utilities Board, to cut back on their electricity use during the morning hours. They had made a similar request last year when they set their previous record.
TVA had spent millions preparing for winter, ensuring their plants were ready for the cold. Their last record was 34,577 megawatts on January 17, 2024, and they’re working hard to keep up with rising energy needs while moving away from coal by 2035.
They plan to replace lost coal generation mainly with natural gas plants, including new units in Kentucky and Alabama that came online just before last winter’s storm.
This record comes after TVA invested $430 million in improving the reliability of their power plants and hydroelectric dams. They even added heated cables and insulation at the John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant in Rogersville to prevent freezing pipes.
Greg Henrich, TVA’s senior vice president, praised the hard work of their employees and the community’s cooperation in conserving energy during peak times. He emphasized that their teamwork made this achievement possible.
After facing challenges in December 2022, when they had to implement rolling blackouts, TVA ramped up their winter readiness efforts. This new record shows how much electricity demand has surged in the past decade.
Later this year, TVA will unveil its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan to address the growing energy needs, following public feedback on a draft released in September.
Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TVA delivers all-time record power demand for second straight year
