Extreme heat drove demand for electricity to record-setting levels in Jacksonville on July 28, then did it again the next day, JEA reported.
The city-owned utility said that on July 28, JEA set a record summer peak load – a measurement of demand – at 2,959 megawatts. That broke the previous record of 2,937 set in August 2007.
On July 29, the peak load edged up to 2,590 megawatts as JEA customers’ air conditioners worked to keep homes and businesses cool for a second straight day.
“These record-breaking levels not only reflect the continued growth of our community but also the increasing demand for electricity during extreme weather and the resilience of our system to keep up with our customers’ needs,” a JEA spokesperson said in an email.
Typical summer peak loads are about 2,500 to 2,600 megawatts.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures hit 101 degrees in Jacksonville both July 28 and July 29, about 12 degrees above average.