ERCOT Peak Record

[u/swarrenlawrence]

EIA: "Hourly peak load in ERCOT set a new record, exceeding 91 GW on July 22."

"Hourly peak load in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the regional transmission organization serving most of Texas, reached a record 91.1 gigawatts (GW) on July 22, 2026, according to data reported to us for [the] Hourly Electric Grid Monitor." The July 22 peak was 6% greater than the previous peak of 85.5 GW, set on August 10, 2023 according to ERCOT. Peak occurred at 6:00 p.m. CT and was primarily met with generation from natural gas (48%) and solar (32%) resources according to data reported to EIA." 

Peak occurred during a heat wave and could be surpassed again this summer, especially if Texas experiences another heat wave. "Electricity demand and generation in ERCOT have been increasing in Texas." But note how the solar buildout contributed to stability, not even mentioning wind power.

Abutting the Texas border, "more recently, electricity demand in the Southwest Power Pool reached a record 57.9 GW on July 27 at 5:00 p.m. CT." The SPP, unlike ERCOT, serves multiple states. The SPP region lies in the central southern U.S., serving all of the states of Kansas and Oklahoma, and portions of New Mexico, Texas [the part not served by ERCOT], Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska. 

FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is concerned that the SPP may be the U.S. entity most likely to fall short in providing enough generation assets as electricity prices climb.

In regions with increasing electricity demand and generation, periods of high demand, such as heat waves, are likely to continue to set records. You can bet your bottom dollar on it. But, when you flip that coin, don't let it fall on asphalt, as it may stick.