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Utilities grapple with peak energy demands

Tampa Electric and Progress Energy have run reserve generators and bought electricity from other utilities.

By STEVE HUETTEL
Published August 4, 2006

High temperatures this week put pressure on many power companies nationwide to meet soaring demands for electricity. Local utilities also felt the heat.

On Wednesday afternoon, about 4,700 Progress Energy customers in south-central Pasco County lost power for 2½ hours after a fuel pump problem shut two generators at the utility's Bartow power plant.

Progress also cut power temporarily Wednesday to those customers in Pinellas and Pasco who pay lower rates for agreeing to electricity interruptions during periods of high demand.

Tampa Electric hit a record peak demand at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and Progress Energy Florida approached a summer record. While afternoon storms Thursday eased power demands, Tampa Electric and Progress had to run reserve "peaker" generators and buy electricity from other utilities the last two days to handle the additional demand.

"Everybody in Florida has been getting very close to new peaks," said Ken Wiley, chief executive in Tampa of the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council, which monitors utilities' ability to meet the state's power needs.

Even so, electric companies have a "very adequate" cushion of additional power generation and energy-saving measures, he said. Much of the crunch during peak periods - from noon to 6 p.m. in the summer - comes from Florida's growing population. Progress Energy added 35,000 new customers in its 35-county service area last year, said spokesman Buddy Eller.

Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3384.

[Last modified August 4, 2006, 01:11:46]