Climate Adaptation
Heat Wave Pushes Texas Power Demand Toward Levels Rarely Seen in Spring
- Main grid operator says it has enough supply to meet demand
- Central U.S. and Texas to bake for days, weather forecast says
Power lines on the outskirts of Odessa, Texas.
Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Demand for electricity in Texas is forecast to surge to a level rarely seen outside of summer as a spring heat wave drives up temperatures and millions of people crank up air conditioners.
The state’s main grid operator, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said it has secured enough supply to meet power use throughout the day. Demand on the grid hit 67.3 gigawatts early afternoon Monday and is forecast to peak at 71.1 gigawatts at 5 p.m. local time. That’s about 3.7 gigawatts short of the all-time demand record for the state, set in August 2019.