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Texas Power Demand Surges to Record as Heat Wave Pushes ERCOT Above 91 GW, EIA Says

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Electricity demand in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas shattered previous records during a summer heat wave, reaching 91.1 gigawatts on July 22, the US Energy Information Administration said in a note on Monday.

Alexander Mey, an energy economist at the EIA, said the new peak, registered at 6:00 p.m. CT, surpassed the region's previous record of 85.5 GW set on Aug. 10, 2023, by about 6%.

The EIA said natural gas and solar resources shouldered the bulk of the generation during the record-setting hour, accounting for 48% and 32% of the supply, respectively.

ERCOT officials noted that the record could be challenged again before the end of the summer if additional heat waves grip the region.

The agency said demand pressures have extended beyond Texas. On July 27 at 5:00 p.m. CT, electricity demand in the neighboring Southwest Power Pool peaked at a record 57.9 GW.

EIA analysts expect grid demand records to continue falling in regions experiencing industrial growth and high temperatures.

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