TVA asks customers to limit electricity use as frigid temperatures challenge power grid

Daniel Dassow, Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read

The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking customers to limit electricity use as it projects record power demand early Jan. 17.

Reducing the stress on the power grid will be especially useful between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. CT — or 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET — on Jan. 17.

The federal utility expects a demand to top 35,000 megawatts as wind chills dip below zero degrees across parts of the agency's service area, a spokesperson told Knox News.

"Our power system remains stable with our generating plants operating as planned," TVA CEO and President Jeff Lyash said in a video on Jan. 16. "However, we do anticipate the highest peak demand for electricity in TVA history early Wednesday morning."

The advisory comes after an after-action report on Winter Storm Elliott — which forced TVA to intermittently shut off power for the first time in its history on Dec. 23-24, 2022 — said the agency needed to improve its communication and transparency to customers.

Now, as a new winter weather system brings similarly cold overnight temperatures experienced during that storm, TVA is bracing for the first true test of its winter readiness work.

Since the blackouts that cost TVA $170 million, the agency has invested over $120 million in bolstering grid reliability and heating technology to prevent its systems from freezing. It has also added almost 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas generation, enough to power nearly 900,000 homes.

The agency said it would spend an additional $120 million above regular levels this year on the reliability of its plants.

TVA's previous record for winter power demand was 33,427 megawatts on Dec. 23, 2022 — the day it ordered its first-ever rolling blackouts. Its all-time power demand record was 33,482 megawatts on Aug. 16, 2007.

TVA's power system is capable of producing close to 33,000 megawatts and the agency has purchase power agreements with other companies for thousands of megawatts.

“We can strengthen and we can make our plants more resilient and we've done that work, but the ultimate test will be in the face of another challenge like Winter Storm Elliott," Larry Sparks, general manager of generation outages and project service, told Knox News in December.

That challenge appears to be heading for the TVA system the morning of Jan. 17, when temperatures are expected to dip below zero in some areas of its system, including in Knoxville.

Winter power demand typically peaks around 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and again around 7 p.m. in the Southeast, when people use the most electricity. On Wednesday morning, temperatures will be just above zero and wind chill could be as low as 10 below zero.

TVA's peak power demand on Jan. 15, when the winter storm began and the temperature was around 21 degrees across its system, was 29,453 megawatts at 7 p.m.

The winter storm and frigid temperatures are challenging the Tennessee Valley Authority's power grid. TVA is asking customers to cut back on power usage if possible.
The winter storm and frigid temperatures are challenging the Tennessee Valley Authority's power grid. TVA is asking customers to cut back on power usage if possible.

How to keep power usage low

When temperatures are low, it takes more power to keep homes warm, and solar generation is unavailable on cloudy or foggy winter mornings.

To lessen its load and help avoid a blackout scenario, TVA has a few simple ways residents can bring down peak power demand on the morning of Jan. 17:

  • Adjust thermostat to between 65-68 degrees, or the lowest temperature that keeps you warm and safe. This also will help keep your power bill lower.

  • Limit use of nonessential appliances and lights and unplug unused electronics

  • Unblock air vents

  • Postpone use of hot water

  • Wait to run the dishwasher or washer and dryer until warmer times of day

  • Consider adding extra insulation to windows and doors to keep out the cold

  • Open blinds and curtains during the day on the sunny side of the house and close them at night

  • Keep warm air circulating with ceiling fans

  • Wear more layers and blankets inside to keep warm

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 asks people to use less power as weather stays cold