TVA Initiates Required Load Reduction Due to Severe Weather

TVA announced today it is initiating ELPC Step 50 of the TVA/TVPPA Load Curtailment Program for a second time.  

Under ELCP Step 50, all Local Power Companies (LPC) are required to curtail 10 percent of their load in support of maintaining a stable grid. This is the second day in a row that Step 50 will have been implemented. 

Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) is a local electric distribution cooperative that purchases its power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As part of that purchase agreement, MTE is required to support TVA in electric load curtailments to maintain reliability across the Tennessee Valley in these rare circumstances. To meet TVA's load curtailment requirement, MTE is working closely with commercial and industrial loads to minimize the impact on families due to the winter weather.  

MTE has already proactively curtailed the electric load at our offices and requests local businesses to stop or delay operations where possible. These proactive actions have helped reduce the impact TVA's load curtailment has on our residential members.  

Additionally, we request our residential members please postpone using electric appliances, reduce heating by lowering thermostats and turn off nonessential lights, appliances and other electrical equipment.  

Should these calls to action not be adequate MTE members should expect to experience rolling blackouts. The rolling blackouts should be around 15 minutes long until TVA rescinds its Step 50 status. 

“We apologize for this inconvenience and are taking every step to shorten the time our members experience disruptions during this cold weather event and the upcoming holidays,” said Chris Jones, MTE’s President and CEO.   

As always, crews are working to restore storm-related outages, and members can report their outages through our automated line at 877-777-9111, via myMTE, or by calling 8777-777-9020.  

Please monitor MTE web pages and social media for updates on the emergency power situation.