An inside look at how we're keeping you cool on the hottest summer days
Monday, July 2, 2012
When the thermometer rises into triple-digit territory, our employees work extra hard to keep you and your family cool. It's not a 9-to-5 type of job, or an air-conditioned one at that.
Unlike most companies, we can't produce our product and store it on a shelf ahead of time. With electricity, we have to deliver it as our customers demand it in real-time.
Generating and transferring that electricity is a complex process that starts at our power plants and ends when you flip the switch or decrease the temperature on your thermostat on a hot summer day.
Last Friday, I visited our Cane Run Generating Station to take a closer look at how it all works. It was blazing hot at 105 degrees -- the hottest day of the year so far.
I met television reporter Drew Douglas and a photographer from WLKY-32 in Louisville at our power plant. Our plant manager provided the tour and guided us through the "coal to pole" journey.
WLKY-32 nicely summarized their time with us in the clip below:
The employee interviewed in the WLKY-32 story -- along with so many others at all of our power plants -- works in sweltering conditions.
In the video below, he sports an "Arc Flashing Suit" he must wear to safely work around electricity.
He says it feels like "wearing a winter coat in the desert" but it's all part of his commitment to delivering safe and reliable power to customers.
New June Peak Demand Records Set
Last Friday, new June peaks were set for each utility and our combined system. To put this into perspective, one megawatt is enough to power about 720 homes. For reference, our all-time combined system peak is 7,175 megawatts and was set on Aug. 4, 2010.
• LG&E system — 2,699 MW
• KU system — 4,138 MW
• Combined system — 6,837 MW
Heat Safety Tips
Be sure to stay safe in these hot temperatures, and check on loved ones and neighbors, especially if they have health issues. Visit www.redcross.org/heatsafety for more tips on keeping cool.
Until next time, keep using energy wisely.
Unlike most companies, we can't produce our product and store it on a shelf ahead of time. With electricity, we have to deliver it as our customers demand it in real-time.
Generating and transferring that electricity is a complex process that starts at our power plants and ends when you flip the switch or decrease the temperature on your thermostat on a hot summer day.
Last Friday, I visited our Cane Run Generating Station to take a closer look at how it all works. It was blazing hot at 105 degrees -- the hottest day of the year so far.
I met television reporter Drew Douglas and a photographer from WLKY-32 in Louisville at our power plant. Our plant manager provided the tour and guided us through the "coal to pole" journey.
WLKY-32 nicely summarized their time with us in the clip below:
The employee interviewed in the WLKY-32 story -- along with so many others at all of our power plants -- works in sweltering conditions.
In the video below, he sports an "Arc Flashing Suit" he must wear to safely work around electricity.
He says it feels like "wearing a winter coat in the desert" but it's all part of his commitment to delivering safe and reliable power to customers.
New June Peak Demand Records Set
Last Friday, new June peaks were set for each utility and our combined system. To put this into perspective, one megawatt is enough to power about 720 homes. For reference, our all-time combined system peak is 7,175 megawatts and was set on Aug. 4, 2010.
• LG&E system — 2,699 MW
• KU system — 4,138 MW
• Combined system — 6,837 MW
Heat Safety Tips
Be sure to stay safe in these hot temperatures, and check on loved ones and neighbors, especially if they have health issues. Visit www.redcross.org/heatsafety for more tips on keeping cool.
Until next time, keep using energy wisely.
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