Dive Brief:
- The grid operator in Texas set a record again this week when hourly demand on Monday between 4 and 5 p.m. broke 69,000 MW for the first time ever.
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has marked several new demand records of late, including two new peaks in consecutive hours last week.
- In other ERCOT news, the grid operator on Tuesday tapped Bill Magness as ERCOT’s next president and CEO, after current chief Trip Doggett announced he would retire next year.
Dive Insight:
Texas power demand set another record on Monday, marking the fourth time in a week (!) that ERCOT has seen power use skyrocket as the state suffered under a prolonged heat wave.
On Aug. 10, the grid operator said that between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. it saw demand reach 69,408 MW -- almost 500 MW above the last record, set just four days before. But officials say the system has been stable, with plenty of reserve power still standing by.
"The ERCOT system has been performing very well through the triple-digit temperatures we’ve been experiencing," ERCOT COO Brad Jones said in a statement. "Today is no exception as operating reserves remained above 3,000 MW throughout this record peak."
The last time ERCOT set records like this was 2011, the hottest summer on record for Texas. But Monday, according to ERCOT Meteorologist Chris Coleman, may wind up having been the hottest day of the year in Texas.
Previous demand records in ERCOT were:
- 68,912 MW -- Aug. 6, 2015
- 68,538 MW -- Aug. 6, 2015
- 68,459 MW -- Aug. 5, 2015
- 68,305 MW -- Aug. 3, 2011
- 67,929 MW -- Aug. 2, 2011
- 66,841 MW -- Aug. 1, 2011
- 65,776 MW -- Aug. 23, 2010
"Demand is expected to remain high until temperatures begin to break at the end of the week," said Dan Woodfin, ERCOT director of system operations. "Our focus continues to be on ensuring we maintain overall reliability and protect the grid while having sufficient generation in place to meet demand."
ERCOT also said wind generation contributed between 2,000 MW and 2,400 MW from installed capacity of more than 13,000 MW during this week's peak.
