Texas power demand breaks all-time record amid searing heat, grid operator reports

 Demand for power in Texas smashed an all-time record Tuesday as homes and businesses cranked their air conditioners in response to searing heat.

With much of the state under an excessive heat warning, demand reached 85,559 megawatts late Tuesday afternoon, said a spokesperson for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs the state’s grid. That topped the previous record of 85,508 set in August 2023.

Widespread power outages were not reported, and ERCOT’s dashboard showed the power grid was operating normally with sufficient capacity. ERCOT predicts demand to fall below 85,000 megawatts Wednesday, providing some relief.

Texas’ surging population and a growing number of industrial-scale users — such as bitcoin miners and data centers — have increased stress on the power grid. ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas told The Dallas Morning News in June that Texas can meet its energy needs, but the state’s electric infrastructure will need a boost and batteries to overcome demand during peak use.

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Story by Sarah Bahari, The Dallas Morning News