APS sets all-time electricity demand record as extreme heat strains Arizona power grid

Arizona Public Service hit a new all-time peak for electricity demand last week, but a company official said the utility had enough power and reserves to keep up as extreme heat strained the grid.

Dwight Hanson, an APS energy trading supervisor, told KTAR News 92.3 FM the utility reached 9,053 megawatts of demand Friday, setting an all-time record for electricity use.

“This is something that we’ve been expecting,” Hanson said. “We’ve been planning for this really for years.”

Hanson explained APS prepares for high-demand days by watching weather forecasts and buying power from other utilities when needed. He said cooler areas in the Pacific Northwest can send electricity south through transmission lines when Arizona demand spikes.

“We’re out there in the market trading with other utilities really all around the West,” Hanson said.

The demand surge came as the Phoenix area faced extreme heat. Hanson said overnight temperatures play a major role because air conditioners keep running when lows stay above 90 degrees.

“Once it’s above 90 degrees overnight, we know it’s going to be difficult,” Hanson said. “Those ACs are just going to be turning on all day, and that demand is going to spike.”

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order over the weekend to make backup power available to several states during hot weather. Although Arizona was mentioned, Hanson said the order did not affect APS.

“We were here watching and making sure that our customers had that energy that they need, and we had more than enough reserves,” Hanson said.

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