And it's only June 3rd!
Fla.'s FPL saw record summer power demand Tuesday
Reuters, 06.03.04, 5:33 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Florida Power & Light Co. said Thursday that hot, dry conditions in Florida drove electricity demand from homes and businesses on its system to a new summer peak on Tuesday.
The company said in a statement that electricity demand hit 20,135 megawatts on Tuesday afternoon, eclipsing the previous summer peak of 19,668 MW recorded July 9, 2003.
The system's all-time record demand of 20,190 MW was set on Jan. 24, 2003.
FPL said it anticipates no problems meeting customer electricity needs this summer.
The company serves 4.2 million homes and businesses in Florida and uses a combination of company-owned generation, firm power purchases and demand management programs to supply electricity and maintain a 20 percent reserve margin.
At the same time, the company is responding to continuing growth and increasing demands for electricity throughout its service area by making significant investments in new power plants, power lines and substations for the future.
FPL expects to add more than 100,000 new customers in 2004.
To meet expected demand growth and maintain a 20 percent reserve margin, FPL recently expanded its Fort Myers and Sanford power plant sites and is currently expanding capacity at its Martin and Manatee plant sites to meet demand in 2005.
In 2007, FPL also plans to expand its Turkey Point site south of Miami by adding a new 1,100 megawatt, state-of-the-art natural gas-fired power unit.
In Florida, one megawatt is enough to power about 230 homes.
Capital expenditures of approximately $6.4 billion are anticipated for new power plant and power line infrastructure to serve customers between 2004 and 2007.
Florida Power & Light Co. is the utility unit and principal subsidiary of FPL Group Inc. (nyse: FPL - news - people).
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service |
