With large parts of the state under an extreme heat warning or heat advisory through July 23, the operator of Texas’ independent power grid is projecting record-breaking electric demand this week.
What’s happening
On July 21, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas logged 87,403 megawatts of electric demand—nearly 2,000 megawatts higher than the standing record of 85,508 megawatts, which was set during an August 2023 heat wave.
And as of 3 p.m. July 22, there were 90,027 megawatts of demand on the grid with 113,543 megawatts of power available, according to ERCOT’s real-time supply and demand dashboard. One megawatt of electricity can power about 250 homes during peak demand times, according to ERCOT.
ERCOT spokesperson Trudi Webster cautioned that this week’s demand records are preliminary. Initial readings are based on “telemetry-quality metering,” she said, which refers to the real-time, remote collection of demand data. Through the market settlement process, ERCOT will pull from higher-quality and more accurate meters to reach its official demand numbers.
What it means
Texans should not expect a grid emergency during this week’s extreme heat.
ERCOT has planned for record electric demand this summer, previously projecting that demand could surpass 92,000 megawatts due to high temperatures and moderate rainfall, coupled with the growth of data centers and other large industrial projects.
Nearly 11,000 megawatts of power were added to ERCOT’s portfolio in recent months, officials said at a June 2 board meeting, helping shield the grid from tight conditions. There is a 0.21% chance of a grid emergency this July, a 5.96% chance of an emergency in August and a 4.38% chance of an emergency in September, ERCOT found in recent reports analyzing grid risks.
“The grid is operating under normal conditions,” Webster said in a June 22 statement to Community Impact. “ERCOT continues a reliability-first approach to grid operations and will continue to operate the grid conservatively, bringing generating resources online early to mitigate sudden changes in generation or demand.”
The triple-digit temperatures come during the sunniest parts of the day, allowing the state to rely in part on solar energy to power the grid. Data shows that Texas leads the nation in solar power capacity, and investments in solar have helped ERCOT power homes and businesses during the hottest parts of the day, according to state officials.
At 34,665 megawatts, Texas also set a new record for solar production July 21, Austin-based energy expert Doug Lewin said on X.
As of press time, the grid operator had not asked Texans to conserve power or entered emergency operations.
Texans last experienced a grid emergency in September 2023 as electric reserves dropped during a record heat wave, Community Impact reported. Agency records show that officials did not mandate rotating power outages during that emergency, as they did during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri.
Something to note
The National Weather Service has warned of “dangerous heat” in most of Texas this week.
Heat index values, or “feels-like temperatures,” were expected to reach 119 degrees Fahrenheit in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, hitting up to 116 degrees in the Greater Houston area and about 115 degrees in the Austin metro, per the NWS.
To protect themselves and others from heat illness, the NWS recommends that Texans:
- Drink plenty of water
- Use air conditioning if available
- If outside, take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and proper sun protection
- Never leave children or pets in vehicles
All Austin Public Library branches, Austin Parks and Recreation facilities and Travis County community centers serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours,
Community Impact previously reported. The city of Houston has opened approximately
112 cooling centers from July 22-23, and College Station has designated
10 public facilities as cooling centers.
Information about cooling centers across the state is available through the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
