Texas and Arizona set record electricity demand in the middle of heat wave

It´s not only the thermometers reaching record temperatures in Texas and Arizona, so too are the electric meters. According to energy infrastructure authorities in both states, electricity consumption levels reached record highs on Monday in both states. With the heat wave, air conditioners are running intensively in residences and businesses to help Americans dodge the sweltering heat.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which provides electric infrastructure to nearly 26 million Texans, reported that electricity demand reached 81,911 megawatts (MW) this Monday, surpassing records set the previous summer. During the heat waves of 2022, eleven records were broken in the volume of electricity grid consumption.

According to ERCOT, the rate of consumption may be increasing. Last July 13, 81,496 MW were consumed and their estimates indicate that next Thursday, it could reach a maximum consumption in the vicinity of 86,575 MW. ERCOT, which supplies electricity to 90% of Texas, assured that it is ready to meet demand without interruption.

Arizona under heat alert

A situation similar to that of Arizona, where the Public Service Company (APSC) also reported record electricity consumption. While temperatures in the Phoenix area reached 110 Fº, the company recorded consumption of 8,191 MW last Saturday, even higher than Friday's consumption, which broke the 2020 record.

APS, which serves 11 of Arizona's 15 counties, said that factors other than heat influence the increase in electricity consumption. They pointed to the increase in population and the creation of new businesses in the state, in statements collected by Arizona's Family.

One megawatt can provide enough power for about 1,000 homes in the average U.S. home. The intensive use of refrigeration and air conditioning units reduces the number of dwellings to only 200.

According to weather forecasts, high temperatures in the South could last at least through the weekend. Heat.gov, the federal government's health and heat prevention agency, is maintaining very high temperature alerts for much of the state of Texas and Arizona. San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston which are within the excessive heat alert zone. So too are Tucson and Phoenix. In Southern California, heat is also intense in San Diego and the Imperial and Riverside counties.