Texas power usage strikes record for 6th time this summer season as heat wave sticks around

The sun sets behind power lines above the plains north of Amarillo, Texas, U.S., March 14, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

July 31 (Reuters) – Demand for power in Texas struck a record high for a 6th time this summer season on Monday as houses and organization kept air conditioning system cranked approximately leave a sticking around heat wave.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which runs the grid for more than 26 million consumers representing about 90% of the state’s power load, stated it has adequate resources readily available to fulfill skyrocketing need.

Experts stated wind and solar energy have actually assisted ERCOT satisfy record-breaking need this summer season while keeping dependability and keeping costs fairly low.

Temperature levels in Houston, Texas’ greatest city, increased as high as 100.4 F (38 degrees Celsius) on Monday, according to AccuWeather.

Texas citizens have actually stressed over severe weather condition considering that a lethal storm in February 2021 left millions without power, water and heat for days as ERCOT had a hard time to avoid a grid collapse.

After the state struck 11 record highs for need last summertime, ERCOT stated use struck an initial 83047 megawatts (MW) on Monday, which topped the present all-time high of 82,592 MW on July 18.

Monday’s peak has to do with 2,744 MW over in 2015’s need record of 80,148 MW embeded in July 2022, comparable to the quantity of power produced by about 3 nuclear power reactors.

Monday’s need record will likely be broken once again on Tuesday with ERCOT forecasting use will reach 84,332 MW.

One megawatt can power around 1,000 U.S. houses on a normal day, however just about 200 houses on a hot summertime day in Texas.

Next-day, or area, costs at the ERCOT North Hub, that includes Dallas, leapt to a two-week high of $250 per megawatt hour for Monday. That compares to approximately $42 up until now this year, $78 in 2022 and a five-year (2018-2022) average of $66.

Real-time power costs struck almost $400 briefly at 17:00 CT on Monday.

Reporting by Scott DiSavino and Ashitha Shivaprasad; Editing by Leslie Adler and Aurora Ellis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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