Bristol, Tenn. – The forecast for this week calls for hot temperatures and, in turn, the Tennessee Valley Authority is expecting loads on its system to be the highest for June in over a decade. Hot temperatures will drive TVA’s peak demand to exceed 30,000 MW. TVA and the 153 local power companies in the Tennessee Valley are asking electric power customers to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity as much as possible from the hours of 3:00pm until 6:00pm (EST) from Monday through Thursday.
Energy reduction could include:
- Postponing the use electric appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and cooking equipment.
- Reducing the use of cooling by adjusting thermostats 2-3 degrees warmer.
- Turning off lights, appliances, and other electrical equipment not needed.
“Per request from TVA, BTES has joined TVA in reducing power usage at our facilities by adjusting thermostats, reducing lighting, and taking other measures to reduce electricity consumption,” said Mike Browder, CEO of BTES. “The voluntary reduction is needed to help ensure a continued supply of power throughout the Tennessee Valley region and avoid interruptions in service.”
Status reports on the power situation will be provided for the duration of the event. TVA is using all available resources and crews from TVA and BTES are working around the clock to make power available to customers.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 154 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood control, navigation, water quality and recreation.
Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) is a municipally owned electric utility that also provides high-speed Internet, telephone, and cable television services over a fiber optic network. BTES has more than 34,000 electric customers in a 280-square-mile service area in the City of Bristol and Sullivan County, Tennessee.
