Extreme temperatures across Texas have set a new peak record for electricity, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The old record set last year was 80,148 MWs and the new record is now 80,828 MWs. The new record occurred between 6 and 7 pm.

ERCOT manages the electric power to more than twenty-six million Texans, about 90% of the state’s electrical load. ERCOT said, “There is currently enough capacity to meet forecasted demand,” but have asked customer to voluntarily conserve power during high summer temperatures to conserve grid operations, especially between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Texas’ power grid has come under fire in the past for being unable to keep up with demand during extreme weather events. The deep freeze of 2021 led to a power crisis that resulted in the deaths of 246 people.

Texas uses a unique approach to electrical energy. They are the only state in the country with their own independent power grid.