EPB is ramping down its own power usage and is encouraging customers to do the same in an attempt to help TVA control demand during what is expected to be a prolonged period of sub-freezing temperatures.
In previous freezes, the power draw from hundreds of thousands of home heating systems struggling against the wintery temperatures outside has caused outages as lines overloaded and other power infrastructure failed to keep pace with the huge demand for electricity.
TVA has asked all its customers, which include EPB, to curtail energy usage in order to ensure a reliable supply of electricity during this week’s unusually cold weather.
EPB says it’s operating in partial darkness at its headquarters as part of TVA’s emergency load curtailment program, and several of EPB’s large industrial and commercial customers have agreed to take similar steps.
“We thank our customers for their understanding and cooperation during these extreme conditions,” said EPB spokesman John Pless