TVA cuts 560 gigawatt-hours
Tennessee Valley Authority calculates that its energy efficiency initiatives in 2012 saved enough energy to power more than 35,000 Tennessee Valley homes for a year.
Bob Balzar, TVA vice president for energy efficiency and demand response, said the programs reduced electric power usage by 560 gigawatt-hours for the second straight year; exceeded TVA’s annual energy efficiency goals for the fifth year in a row; and raised total energy savings to more than 1,600 gigawatt-hours since 2007.
“We attribute the success of these programs to the strong support from local power companies, directly served industrial customers, consumers, businesses and industry,” Balzar said.
Demand Response is a system that pays energy users to reduce consumption during periods when the cost and demand for electricity are highest, adding stability to the power grid.
TVA energy efficiency and demand response initiatives added the ability to trim an additional 227 megawatts of peak demand in fiscal year 2012.