Snowfall yesterday and today has been followed by rapidly plummeting temperatures across the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) service area. Forecasts predict system-wide temperatures will dip into the mid to lower teens on Thursday and Friday mornings, leading to a significant increase in power demand, potentially exceeding 32,000 MW on Thursday and 34,000 MW on Friday. TVA is well-prepared to meet this demand, and thousands of dedicated workers from TVA, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES), and local power companies are working tirelessly to ensure reliable service throughout the event.
TVA and the 153 local power companies will be implementing energy-saving measures to help conserve electricity during this extreme weather event, and we encourage the public to join us in reducing power usage, specifically during the hours of 7:00 am through 11:00 am (EST) Thursday and Friday mornings. Some simple steps include:
- Lower your thermostat by one or two degrees. Each degree you lower can save you as much as three percent on your monthly energy bill.
- Reduce energy usage during the coldest part of the day by turning off non-essential appliances and lights.
- Delay using high-energy appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers.
“BTES will be reducing power usage at our facilities by adjusting thermostats, reducing lighting, and taking other steps to lower electricity consumption,” said Clayton Dowell, CEO of BTES.
Status updates on the power situation will be posted on TVA’s and BTES’ Facebook pages as needed. TVA and BTES are working around the clock to ensure reliable power for all customers.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 153 local power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
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.
