Temperatures topping 100 degrees and an expected heat index value of 110 degrees led to a second-straight day of all-time record hourly demand for electricity usage on the state's biggest electrical grid.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas operates that grid, which covers most of the state. An ERCOT statement set a new record Monday of 69,743 megawatts between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., breaking a record set just a hour earlier of 69,408 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“Demand is expected to remain high until temperatures begin to break at the end of the week,” Dan Woodfin, ERCOT director of System Operations said in a statement. “Our focus continues to be on ensuring we maintain overall reliability and protect the grid while having sufficient generation in place to meet demand.”
The highest usage before Monday was a record of 68,911.63 megawatts between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday Aug. 6, breaking a record set just an hour before of 68,537.58 megawatts between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
A day before that -- another record setting day when customers used 68,459 megawatts of power between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 5.
Before Aug. 5, 2015, the record had held since Aug. 3, 2011.
One megawatt is about enough electricity to power about 200 homes during hot weather running air conditioners.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
ERCOT says system operators and the generator and transmission operators within the system managed Wednesday's record demand without major problems. However, it said system conditions will be monitored closely.
