Arizona utilities are setting records for delivering energy based on customer demand.
This month, the Valley has had an average high of 110 degrees as of Aug. 19, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
On Aug. 20, the Valley saw its 36th non-consecutive day in 2024 where low temps are 90 degrees or above, said Ryan Worley, a meteorogist for the National Weather Service.
Extreme daytime temperatures, higher overnight temperatures and an increase in the number of Salt River Project commercial and residential electric customers all factor into strong demand, an SRP press release stated.
Bot SRP and Arizona Public Service Co., the state’s two largest utilities, delivered a record amount of energy on Sunday, Aug. 4.
APS customers set a new peak energy demand record by using 8,212 megawatts of power that day while SRP set a new peak of 8,219 megawatts, a press release stated.
That day, it was 116 degrees at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix when records were broken, said Tim Rusert, director of power supply services at APS.
APS officials planned for temps to be a few degrees above the 116-degree mark to ensure it had enough reserve power had the temp went a bit higher, APS officials said.
The previous APS record was set last July when 8,162 megawatts were used on Saturday, July 15, a press release stated.
The past few summers have been hotter than average, Rusert said. Three out of the past five summers have been warmer than normal, he said.
“It’s tending to be warmer during the summer months,” Rusert said. “We plan well in advance — we expect it to be warm, hot in the summer.”
Both utilities that serve the Valley have real-time and short-term energy traders on the clock 24/7 to buy and sell energy to help meet customer demand in Arizona.
APS and SRP are members of the Western Energy Imbalance Market in a group that includes Arizona, New Mexico, California, Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Montana, according to Western Energy Imbalance Market website.
The Valley should use more energy in the years to come as long as energy trends continue for both residential and commercial customers, the director of power supply services said.
“We plan multiple years in advance to support the customer load,” Rusert said.
Brent Ruffner joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2021 where he writes about developments at TSMC and Maricopa County issues, including election topics.
He's written about stories that range from accusations that a Mesa monkey breeding facility is unsafe to what to do if you encounter a rattlesnake in the desert.
Community: He is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, May 2007.
Random Fact: He met former San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays at a Phoenix Firebird game after winning a contest for an autographed baseball.
Hobbies: Hiking in the woods and collecting sports memorabilia.
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