A general view of electric lines as demand for power surges during a period of hot weather in Houston, Texas, U.S. June 27, 2023.
REUTERS/Callaghan O’Hare/File PhotoAug 7 (Reuters) - Demand for power in Texas hit a record high on Monday for the eighth time this summer as homes and businesses kept air conditioners cranked up to escape a lingering heat wave.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the grid for more than 26 million customers representing about 90% of the state's power load, said it has enough resources available to meet soaring demand.
After setting 11 new highs for demand last summer, ERCOT said usage hit a preliminary 83,854 megawatts (MW), which topped the most recent record high of 83,593 MW on Aug. 1.
Rising economic and population growth have boosted electricity use in Sun Belt states such as Texas even though overall U.S. power demand is projected to ease in 2023 after hitting a record high in 2022.
Persons:
Callaghan, ERCOT, Ashitha, Jacqueline Wong
Organizations:
REUTERS, Reliability, of Texas, Sun, Thomson
Locations:
Houston , Texas, U.S, Texas, Bengaluru