Power companies do not expect any major outages during heat wave
Nashville Facing Extreme Heat, Power Companies Remain Confident
Nashville, the heart of Middle Tennessee, is expecting an extreme heat wave this weekend. It could be highly risky for anyone venturing outside or remaining indoors without an air conditioner. However, power officials are confident that there wouldn’t be any significant power outages despite the rising temperatures crossing 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is preparing to handle the amplified electricity demand. TVA’s spokesperson, Scott Brooks, revealed that the company had one of its highest electricity-demanding months in June throughout its history, and it’s presumed that this heat wave could escalate the demand even further.
TVA’s preparedness for the power challenge
Assuring the residents of Nashville, Brooks said that TVA’s grid was ready to accommodate the increased needs after its completion of spring and summer maintenance. Every generating unit is running, and there is a plan to buy power from other suppliers if necessary.
Brooks added that residents could contribute to power conservation efforts by avoiding appliances that generate a lot of heat, closing blinds, and raising the thermostat by a few degrees.
TVA is in collaborations with its local utility associates to avoid any disruptions. In an unfortunate incident on Friday morning, around 450 people in a Bellevue neighborhood lost power when a tree fell on power lines. It was rectified, and power was restored to the affected customers in about three hours.
Handling Outages and Power Surges
Local resident John Thetford expressed his concerns about these random power outages because when his house loses power due to such incidents, the heat becomes unbearable quickly. According to Brent Baker, chief customer and innovation officer of NES, even with maintenance, it isn’t easy to prevent power absence. However, they are leveraging new technology to speed up the process of power restoration.
Baker added that NES had seen its peak usage in August 2007 with 2,700 megawatts. However, July’s peak this year was 2,300 megawatts so far, accounting for an extra 100,000 customers resulting from Nashville’s growth since 2007.
While power companies are doing their best to keep the power running without any glitch, residents are encouraged to stay prepared and make necessary arrangements to combat the heatwave forecasted for the coming days.
Notes to Editor:
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