Tucson Electric Power explains how it restores power and meets demand during extreme heat

Tucson Electric Power operators monitor the local grid around the clock from a control room. When an outage occurs, customer reports help a predictive system identify the likely location of the problem, allowing TEP to send crews more quickly.

After crews find the damage, operators can isolate the affected equipment and reroute electricity when possible. That can restore power to many customers while repair work continues.

Extreme heat also increases demand for electricity. TEP recorded its highest demand on Aug. 6, 2025, when Tucson reached 111 degrees. The system used 2,502 megawatts at that time, a record that has not been surpassed.

TEP also has 10 natural gas powered RICE generators that can produce about 200 megawatts combined. The units can reach full output in less than a minute, helping supply electricity during sudden demand increases or while crews repair storm damaged equipment.