RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As a result of record-breaking low temperatures, Dominion Virginia Power's 2.5 million customers on Friday established an all-time record for electricity usage.

Dominion supplied a peak of 21,651 megawatts of electricity at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. That is an increase of more than 1,500 megawatts over the previous peak, which was a summer mark of 20,061 megawatts set on July 22, 2011. One megawatt supplies enough electricity at peak for approximately 250 homes.

The previous winter peak of 19,870 megawatts was set on Jan. 8, 2015.

For the 24-hour period on Friday, customers also used a record amount of electricity. During that span, the company delivered 450,432 megawatt hours of electricity. The previous mark of 431,923 megawatt hours was set on Feb.16, 2014.

The company's generation, transmission and distribution systems met the severe weather challenge. To help customers limit the impact of frigid temperatures on electric bills and manage energy usage these simple energy-saving tips will help: https://www.dom.com/residential/dominion-virginia-power/ways-to-save/energy-saving-tips/winter-tips 

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600 megawatts of generation, 12,400 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines.  Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 949 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com/.

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SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power