(PatrioticPost.com)- Energy use broke a record amid hot temperatures in the Southwest, but the Texas power grid operator is mainly holding up. Ninety percent of the electricity used in the state is managed by ERCOT, the operator of the Texas power system, for more than 26 million users.
This past weekend, Texas experienced heat indexes above 110 degrees.
The weather station reported a few power outages in North Texas, but the electrical grid was able to withstand the extreme heat.
According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the system, demand on the power grid surpassed 74.9 gigawatts at 4:50 p.m. local time, exceeding a record established in August 2019.
For comparison, 200,000 dwellings may be powered by one gigawatt.
Texas residents will pay double the rates to stay cool, according to ERCOT, even though it can handle the record demand during the most recent heat wave.
In February 2021, Texas saw a rare cold snap that caused natural gas storage levels to drop to “mid-level,” according to experts. As a result of this storage level dip, energy prices have now doubled.
Texas had record-breaking electricity use during a scorching heat wave, exceeding figures before the coronavirus outbreak.
The record highlights the oppressive heat and rapid population expansion that Texas is experiencing as IT, aerospace, and manufacturing industries move there to take advantage of the state’s low taxes and accessible workforce. It may also be an ominous sign of what this summer will bring. Although temperatures in Texas frequently reach 100 degrees (38 Celsius), it is still early in the season for such severe temperatures. The National Centers for Environmental Information reported on Wednesday that the state experienced its second-warmest May.
Setting a power-user record on the weekend, when electricity consumption is generally lower because many offices and factories are closed, is particularly unusual for the area.
On Sunday, 105 degrees were predicted for Dallas.
On Sunday, demand is anticipated to peak at roughly 75 gigawatts, just before 6 o’clock local time.
