This month’s heat wave smashed energy-demand records for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
The utility reported that the recent heat dome sent temperatures above 100 degrees on multiple days across the TVA service area, which includes all of Tennessee and parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky. To stay cool, homes and businesses cranked the air conditioners and spiked the need for electricity throughout the TVA service area.
On 17 days, TVA pumped more than 30,000 megawatts of electricity to customers. One day set the all-time record for electricity delivered: On September 3, TVA delivered 33,270 megawatts to customers, enough energy to power more than 19.2 million homes. The utility said it had previously only experienced one September day above 30,000 megawatts — September, 24 2007.
In June, Memphis Light, Gas & Water warned its 400,000 customers of higher bills ahead for the summer. It said customers could expect bills to rise by 20 percent to 40 percent on average, which could translate to bills rising by by $30 to $60 per month.
Increased energy usage was one culprit but not the only one.
“The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and utility industries across the globe are experiencing fuel-market challenges in the face of high natural gas and coal prices, summer supply concerns, and an increase in electricity demand,” reads a statement from MLGW. “Due to increasing TVA fuel rates combined with increasing summer electricity consumption, MLGW customers will see summer electric bills increase substantially.”
