TVA Issues Statement Regarding Christmas Weekend Blackouts

A Tennessee state representative has sent a letter to the TVA requesting to know what happened that caused the TVA to require rolling blackouts on Friday December 23rd and Christmas Eve, December 24th. Congressman Tim Burchette of Knoxville sent the letter to the TVA but says his office has not yet received a response. However, the TVA issued a press release Wednesday saying that they take full responsibility for the rolling blackouts across East Tennessee they say were caused by an increased strain on their power system. In the statement the TVA said the sustained record-breaking cold temperatures and high winds from the recent winter storm strained the power grids across the nation.

The TVA claims on Friday, December 23rd, they supplied more power than at any other time in its nearly 90-year history. The TVA ordered local power companies to induce rolling blackouts. Local power companies, like Newport Utilities, get their power from the TVA so they are bound to follow instructions from the TVA. The TVA says they are reviewing what happened and they will learn and improve from the weekend’s power issue.