Case Study: Pedernales Electric Cooperative ensures storm-ready performance with PFLB load testing

How Load Testing Helped Texans Survive Power Outages During a Storm

Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), the largest electric distribution cooperative in the United States, faced the challenge of performance testing its new Storm Center and Outage Reporting & Status (OR&S) systems under a strict deadline. They needed to ensure the platforms could handle peak load during storms and depended on an external contractor, complicating the process. PEC engaged the load testing services of vendor PFLB to validate the systems before release.

PFLB's solution involved creating user scenarios to simulate a load of 10,000 virtual users, working in coordination with PEC and the infrastructure provider. Their testing identified critical performance issues, such as spikes in response time that could cause service delays. This empowered PEC to make adjustments, ensuring optimal system performance. As a result, the systems were successfully deployed, fully preparing the cooperative to handle heavy user load and keep Texans safe and informed during power outages.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative