Press Mention The Knoxville News-Sentinel July 19, 2000
Topical Mention
TVA keeping up with power needs
In this mention
TVA reports it has successfully forecast summer electricity demand and is prepared to meet regional power needs through Labor Day using improved plant reliability, new gas turbines, and potential power purchases. The federal utility has not issued conservation warnings like California but maintains contingency plans if supply becomes tight. Economic growth in the TVA region has driven demand increases of 2-3 percent annually, outpacing the national average.
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TVA keeping up with power needs
By Jacques Billeaud
News-Sentinel staff writer
The Tennessee Valley Authority said it has correctly forecast electric demand so far this summer.
The federal power producer hopes it will continue to keep the lights and air conditioning on in the seven-state region.
But, with a tight electricity supply across the country and weather that can't be controlled, TVA officials said there are no guarantees.
"We really can't take a breath until after Labor Day," TVA Chairman Craven Crowell said at an agency board meeting Wednesday.
Other areas of the country have experienced electricity supply problems during the past two summers, and similar concerns have been raised this year.
Earlier this month, for instance, California asked customers to cut down on electricity use.
TVA hasn't issued such a warning, though it does have a plan to ask customers to curtail power use if the need arises, said Gregory Vincent, a senior vice president for the federal utility.
"We'll have to wait and see how the weather is," Crowell said.
TVA said it has prepared for the summer power demand by improving the reliability of its plants, adding gas turbines to produce more electricity and making plans to buy extra power.
To ensure it meets demand, TVA is prepared to buy power produced outside the region, even though it may not need all the extra power provided by such options.
Not all suppliers can be counted on to actually deliver power when the summer electric market gets tight, TVA said.
Economic growth throughout the TVA region has caused demand to increase.
Demand in the TVA region has grown at 2 to 3 percent a year, compared to 1.1 percent nationally, TVA said.
Jacques Billeaud may be reached at 865-342-6309 or billeaud@knews.com.