U.S. Rep. Dale Strong has fired off a letter to the Tennessee Valley Authority today voicing his apprehension about its power grid in light of looming summer strains expected to impact grids nationwide.
In his letter, Strong referenced last December’s unprecedented energy load reductions or “rolling blackouts,” TVA implemented due to Winter Storm Elliott. These were the first ever in the utility’s 90-year history. The severe weather event left residents and businesses without power.
“Customers across North Alabama, ranging from rural electric cooperatives to large business entities, rely on TVA for their power,” Strong wrote in the two-page letter. “In fact, they have no other option.”
“In return, these customers expect reliable, uninterrupted service. I remain concerned that, should a weather event occur that places temperatures outside the normal range, the people of North Alabama may find themselves again subject to these rolling blackouts.”
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has classified the region as having an “elevated” seasonal risk of power grid stress.
RELATED: TVA initiating rolling blackouts across North Alabama
Strong emphasized the implications for the fast-growing North Alabama region, stating, “Given North Alabama’s burgeoning economy and population growth, we must ensure that our infrastructure can meet the needs of existing and incoming government organizations, business entities, residents, and all those wishing to make North Alabama their home.”
Following the December incident, TVA released a “Winter Storm Elliott After Action Report” detailing measures it had taken to address the issue. However, Congressman Strong expressed skepticism about these measures’ adequacy to handle potential near-term resilience issues in the region’s power grid.
“I remain skeptical that the proposed solutions adequately address potential near-term resiliency insufficiencies of the power grid that services North Alabama,” Strong said. “As such, I respectfully request that you provide my office with details on the short-term steps TVA has taken to ensure that its grid remains fully operational, and its customers experience no interruption in service.”
The TVA is a federally owned corporation providing electricity for 10 million people across seven Southeastern states – including Alabama.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 legislative session.
