Strong pens letter to TVA regarding elevated risk of summer blackouts

WASHINGTON— Congressman Dale W. Strong (AL-05) sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Jeffrey Lyash expressing concern about the resiliency of District 5’s power grid as forecasts show the upcoming summer will place strain on grids nationwide.

In December 2022, TVA experienced the first ever implementation of energy load reductions, also known as “rolling blackouts,” in its ninety-year history during Winter Storm Elliott.

These blackouts left customers across North Alabama, from rural electric cooperatives to large business entities, without power.

This summer, North Alabama may face similar circumstances, as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation has assessed the region as having an “elevated” seasonal risk of power grid stress.

Congressman Dale Strong writes, “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.”

Since December, TVA has addressed its shortcomings during the storm in its “Winter Storm Elliott After Action Report.”

However, Strong writes, “I remain skeptical that the proposed solutions adequately address potential near-term resiliency insufficiencies of the power grid that services North Alabama. 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,” said the Congressman.

The letter can be read here.