UPDATE 5:45 AM 12/24/2022:
Cullman Electric has started rolling power outages to comply with TVA's Emergency Load Curtailment Program (ELCP) requirements. Rolling power outages will impact a given area for approximately 15-30 minutes, and will continue until otherwise notified by TVA.
If you experience a power outage this morning it is most likely a result of the rolling outages. If your power remains out for more than 30 minutes, please contact the co-op at 256-737-3201.
UPDATE 9:05 PM 12/23/2022:TVA asks power companies to stay prepared as power demand remains high overnightTVACullman
Cullman Electric Cooperative is continuing to monitor electric load on our system. If TVA should have any issues with power generation tonight and into Saturday morning, local power companies could again be mandated by TVA to reduce our system load. Earlier today, Cullman Electric was able to meet this requirement by working with our industrial customers. If an emergency reduction is issued tonight, Cullman Electric is prepared to start rolling outages for residential members. These would impact small areas for approximately 30 minutes. Under the first level of TVA’s emergency load reduction plan, members would experience a rolling outage no more than once every eight hours.
If TVA issues a mandatory power reduction, we will inform members through our website and social media as quickly as possible.
UPDATE 12:45 PM 12/23/2022: Cullman EC working with members to meet TVA power reduction demand
TVA informed local power companies Friday morning that it lost some of its power generation capacity. Cullman Electric Cooperative initiated steps within TVA’s emergency plan that required local power companies to reduce the load by five percent. Cullman Electric was able to meet that load reduction by working with our industrial consumers and did not have to use rolling blackouts for residential consumers. We are aware some co-op members have experienced power blinks. These are related to the high load on our system and are not associated with rolling blackouts. These issues are being handled on a case-by-case basis as co-op staff work to balance the load across the co-op’s system.
TVA has ended the load reduction requirement as of noon Friday, but it could be reinstated as the dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills impact our region over the next few days. Cullman Electric is continuing to encourage consumers to conserve electricity through the weekend.
We appreciate all of our industrial consumers who worked with us to reduce their electric load during this critical time and to all of the residential members who are taking voluntary actions to reduce electricity consumption at their homes.
11:45 AM 12/23/2022: Voluntary Steps to Conserve Energy Due to Extreme Cold
Cullman Electric Cooperative and its electricity provider, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are asking co-op members to take voluntary steps to conserve energy as dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills impact our region over the next few days.
Public safety is Cullman EC’s and TVA’s overriding priority, so do not significantly turn down your heat, but lowering thermostats by just one or two degrees makes a big difference.
TVA’s recommendations include asking the public to delay using washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and high-energy-use appliances until lateron Saturday afternoon.
Another helpful tip is to keep window coverings closed on the non-sunny side of homes but open them if bright sunlight is available to provide additional heat.
As ofFriday morning, temperatures are averaging in the single digits across the entire region, pushing power demand past 30,000 MW. We expect power demand to remain near this levelthrough Saturday. The power system remains stable, and thousands of public power workers at TVA and local power companies are working hard in challenging conditions to keep it that way.
TVA and local power companies have lowered their thermostats to help conserve electricity, and we ask for the public to join us in taking some simple steps to reduce power use without impacting the holidays.
TVA actively prepares for extreme events like this all year, and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the resiliency of the power system.
All available power generation units are online, and TVA is purchasing additional power through its network of transmission interconnections that link to other regional utilities.TVA hassuspended all non-emergency tests and maintenance for generating plants, switchyards, transmission lines, or other equipment that could impact the reliability of the power system.
