Hot weather sets TVA power peak

This week’s heatwave pushed electricity consumption in the Tennessee Valley to its highest level in nearly a decade.

On Thursday, when temperatures across TVA’s seven-state region averaged 92 degrees, power demand for TVA peaked at 30,340 megawatts at 6 p.m. Eastern time as air conditioners ran at high levels to keep homes, offices and factories cool amid the sweltering heat and humidity.

TVA spokesman Scott Fiedler said Thursday’s power peak was up from the 30,209-megawatt peak the previous day and was the highest summer load for TVA since July 26, 2012. Power usage Thursday was still well below the 33,482-megawatt peak TVA reached in the summer of 2007 when temperatures were above

100 degrees across the Tennessee Valley.

Thursday’s power peak was the 14th highest July peak and the 60th highest overall summer peak in TVA’s history, Fiedler said.

Despite initial heat advisories issued for Chattanooga Friday, the power peak for the entire Tennessee Valley Friday was not expected to be as high as Thursday’s peak.