TVA smashed September power record amid heat dome

The Tennessee Valley Authority met electricity demands above 30,000 megawatts on 17 days in September after reaching that demand in September only once before in its history.

Entering 2026, TVA’s September record of more than 30,000 megawatts was set Sept. 24, 2007. The smashed record highlights both the unusually hot month this year and TVA’s growing need for more electricity generation.

TVA set 12 all-time power demand records in September for any fall or spring month, peaking at 33,270 megawatts on Sept. 3, enough electricity to power more than 19.2 million homes. A megawatt is a measure of instantaneous power use equal to 1 million watts and enough to power around 585 homes, according to TVA.