Texas Power Grid Warning: Demand Will Rise Considerably Amid Soaring Temperatures

Power lines are seen during a heatwave with expected temperatures of 102 F (39 C) in Dallas, Texas, U.S. June 12, 2022. Though the heat wave caused electricity use in Texas to reach an all time high, the power grid remained largely stable without major issues. REUTERS/Shelby Tauber

The Texas state power grid is anticipating higher demand due to rising temperatures, with the state predicted to see “dangerous heat” this weekend.

“ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch June 15-21 due to forecasted higher temperatures and anticipated higher electrical demand,” the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s power grid operator, said in a June 14 post on Twitter. The operator’s grid conditions remained “Normal” as of 01:00 p.m. EDT, with operating reserves at 6,094 MW. ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to over 26 million customers in Texas, representing roughly 90 percent of the state’s electric load.