WAVERLY, Iowa (July 28, 2011) – Waverly Light and Power set a new peak on Tuesday, July 19, when high heat and humidity created record demand for electricity. Air-conditioning and other electric usage pushed the system to a new peak of 34.94 megawatts, surpassing the previous record of 31.72 MW set in July 2006.
“It was the first real test for our power agreement with Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN),” said Diane Johnson, General Manager of Waverly Light and Power. MEAN has been providing all of local utility’s wholesale electricity since February 2010.
Johnson said despite record temperatures and electric peaks throughout Iowa and Nebraska, Waverly Light and Power met the increased demand without interruptions to customer’s service.
She added that because the new supplier performed well, Waverly Light and Power did not have to run its local diesel generators, which are more expensive to operate.
“We’ve created a partnership with MEAN that served our customers well,” Johnson concluded.
About Waverly Light and Power
Established in 1904, Waverly Light and Power is a municipally owned electric utility that now serves more than 4,600 customers in and around Waverly. In 1993, Waverly Light and Power became the first public power system in the Midwest to own and operate wind generation, positioning the utility as a national leader in renewable energy. Managed by a trusteeship, Waverly Light and Power is committed to energy efficiency, and is the recipient of numerous state and national awards, including the Reliable Public Power Award, the Iowa Energy Leadership Award, and multiple Energy Innovator Awards.
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