As a result of the continuing heat wave, PP&L, Inc. set a new summer record for electricity delivery Tuesday afternoon (7/6).
PP&L, Inc. delivered an estimated 6,273,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity to customers between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., according to preliminary figures. The previous summer record of 6,118,000 kilowatt-hours set on June 28 lasted just eight days.
A kilowatt-hour is the amount of electricity used by ten 100-watt light bulbs in one hour. An average home in PP&L, Inc.'s electric delivery service area uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
"Even with the extremely high demand for electricity, we were able to deliver power reliably throughout the day with no rotating blackouts and minimal effect on our customers," said William H. Whitehead, PP&L, Inc.'s manager of Transmission & Distribution Operations.
At the request of the regional PJM Interconnection power pool, a group of about 80 PP&L, Inc. industrial customers curtailed their electricity use during the day Tuesday, based on the provisions of PP&L, Inc.'s interruptible service rate.
These customers have special contracts with PP&L, Inc., which enable them to buy power at a lower price in exchange for agreeing to temporary interruptions of their electric service when needed. They will be able to resume using electricity this evening.
The PJM Interconnection coordinates electricity distribution for more than 22 million people in parts of five mid-Atlantic states - Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia - and the District of Columbia.
In addition, the PJM Interconnection called for electric companies to reduce voltage on their distribution systems by 5 percent.
Voltage is the amount of pressure sending electrical current through a wire. Reducing voltage is like reducing the pressure of water flowing through a garden hose. A voltage reduction does not damage electrical equipment.
The record PP&L, Inc. set today is for summertime electric delivery. The company generally delivers more electricity in the winter. The all-time delivery record is 6,688,000 kilowatt-hours, set Jan. 14, 1999.