Shifting
to a Winter
Peaking Utility
Over the past decade, Alabama Power
customers have had the highest
demand during winter months. What
caused this change in the hot and
humid Deep South? Read along.
Customer preferences for the more
electric heating options on the
market — think heat pumps — have
encouraged customers to make the
switch. The higher demand from
customers using more electricity
during the winter to heat their
homes is outweighing the improved
efficiency of air conditioning units to
cool homes during the summer.
Winter Peaking by the Numbers
7 a.m.
average time in winter
months where electricity
demand is the highest.
2010
first year the company
experienced its highest
demand in winter months.
2015
highest calculated energy
use recorded in company
history.
15 years
average lifespan of an
air conditioning unit. We
predict 6.7% of AC units are
upgraded with newer, more
efficient systems each year.
13,000MW
12,500MW
12,000MW
11,500MW
11,000MW
10,500MW
10,000MW
'05
Summer Hstor Wnter Hstor
'06 '07 '08 '09
'10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21
