ERCOT's average hourly power load hit a record 74.5 gigawatts for the week ending August 22, 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. That was 10% higher than the highest weekly average recorded anywhere in the summer of 2025, and 6% above the previous record of 70.0 gigawatts, set in 2023.
Demand eased slightly the following week. Average hourly load for the week ending August 29, 2026, came in at 73.7 gigawatts, still among the highest levels ERCOT has recorded. Sustained high temperatures have contributed to the persistently high demand across the region ERCOT manages, which covers most of Texas.
| Week ending | Average hourly load |
|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2026 | 74.5 GW (record) |
| Aug 29, 2026 | 73.7 GW |
| 2023 record | 70.0 GW |
Every week from July 25 through August 29, 2026, six weeks running, has exceeded the 2023 record.
Data center connections under review
Amid the record demand, ERCOT is auditing proposals from data centers seeking to connect to the power grid. The review follows a moratorium Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently placed on new data center interconnections.
