Many people stayed inside due to the frigid temperatures in Covington County, and elsewhere in the southeast. They turned up the heat this weekend.
According to the electric providers, Opp Utilities, Andalusia Utilities and Covington Electric Cooperative, this was the main reason for the record-breaking energy consumption in the county.
Mayor Earl Johnson, chairman of Andalusia Utilities said that the recent cold snap had strained many utilities in the southeast. “Cold weather increases the demand for heat in our region, particularly in the morning and at night when it is below freezing.
PowerSouth, the wholesale supplier of electricity to these providers, saw its highest peak demand on Christmas Eve. This means that the cooperative has supplied the most electricity ever.
Demand reached 2,675 megawatts, just 200 MW more than the 2018 all-time record of 2,458MW.
“We were able meet the historic demand in our region with limited service interruptions,” stated Ed Short, President, CEO, and General Manager at Covington Electric Cooperative.
Johnson stated that PowerSouth, our wholesale power supplier, had done an excellent job planning for high peaks such as those experienced last week in extreme weather. Johnson said, “It was because of that planning that we had very few interruptions in my area. I know that area residents are grateful.”
End-users should conserve energy during extreme weather or peak times. This keeps energy costs down and ensures everyone has a reliable, steady supply of energy.
It is easy to conserve energy.
- Winter weather can be a good time to lower the thermostats even by a degree.
- It is important to turn off all lights, electronics, and other devices that aren’t in use.
- Do not delay household chores such as washing dishes or laundry.
Stacey Parker, Opp Utilities’ General Manager and CFO, stated that residents can reduce their energy consumption to help the community.
The post Cold snap causes record energy use was first published on The AndalusiaStar-News.
