TVA Meets Record Winter Season Peak Power Demand

January 3, 2008

TVA met the highest demand for electricity ever during the winter season on Wednesday, Jan. 2, and likely will meet another record demand for power today, as cold winter temperatures increased power use across the Tennessee Valley.

Based on initial readings, the TVA system met a demand of 30,537 megawatts at 7 p.m. CST Wednesday, when the average temperature across the Tennessee Valley was 23 degrees. The exact amount of the peak demand is preliminary and may be adjusted slightly.

TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore said TVA expects to meet another record winter peak power demand today as cold temperatures continue across the Valley. The amount of today’s peak power demand will be available Friday, Jan. 4.

“Employees of TVA and distributors of TVA power are working around the clock to meet the energy needs of homes and businesses in the Tennessee Valley during these cold winter temperatures,” Kilgore said. “At the time of the peak demand, TVA was generating power from 63 of 65 fossil and nuclear units, and its hydro, pumped storage and combustion turbine plants. Our generation fleet and transmission system performed well to meet the record winter demand.”

The previous record for winter power demand was 30,320 megawatts, which TVA met Jan. 31, 2007. The all-time record demand on the TVA power system is 33,482 megawatts met on Aug. 16, 2007.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self- financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

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Gil Francis, Knoxville, (865) 632-8031
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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