As temperatures climbed above 100 degrees across Texas on Monday, the demand for electric power set a new June record.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said its grid delivered an average of 65,047 megawatts during the 4 p.m. hour, eclipsing the record set on June 17 last year.
ERCOT is forecasting even higher loads on Tuesday, and Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus forecasts triple-digit temperatures will continue through Friday.
ERCOT again urged consumers to limit electric use during the peak hours of 3 and 7 p.m. to reduce the possibility of brownouts or blackouts. Suggested actions include:
- turn up the thermostat by two or three degrees in the late afternoon or before leaving home in the morning
- set pool pumps to run late at night or early in the morning
- avoid using large appliances -- especially stoves and clothes dryers -- during peak hours
The agency has released free apps for Apple and Android devices that help consumers keep track of energy demands and provide conservation alerts.
