Phoenix-area power customers set peak use on hottest day of year

PHOENIX — With residents around metro Phoenix cranking up their air conditioning to combat a smothering heat wave, one of the state’s biggest power companies met a record peak demand this week.

Salt River Project said its more than 1 million Valley customers used 7,252 megawatts on Tuesday between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. APS customers also used 7,320 megawatts on Tuesday.

The mercury reached 116 degrees, the hottest of the year so far.

A single meagwatt can power about 225 homes.

The numbers bested last year’s system peak of 7,219 megawatts.

Phoenix has tied the daily record at 116°. Wowzers! I hope you're being safe. #azwx

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 24, 2018

Earlier this week, as forecasts pointed to temperatures of up to 118 degrees, SRP spokeswoman Patty Garcia-Likens said the power company “planned for days just like this.”

High daytime temperatures coupled with hot overnight temperatures drove usage. The overnight low was 91 degrees.

It didn’t get much better Wednesday.

The National Weather Service reported it was already 100 degrees at 8 a.m. The high was to be about 115 degrees with an expected overnight low of 93 degrees.

Right at noon, and our high at Phoenix is already 112 degrees. Still a long ways to go this afternoon. #azwx

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 25, 2018

SRP attributed year-round maintenance of its electrical grid to keeping the energy flowing during the cool-air cranking.

An excessive heat watch was to stay in place until 8 p.m. despite a possibility of some rain in the afternoon.

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