ERCOT's power grid hit a record peak load of 91.1 gigawatts (GW) on July 22, 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said, citing data reported to its Hourly Electric Grid Monitor. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the transmission grid serving most of Texas, said the new peak beat its prior record of 85.5 GW, set August 10, 2023, by 6%.
The new peak hit at 6:00 p.m. CT during a heat wave. The EIA said it could be surpassed again this summer if Texas sees another heat wave, since electricity demand and generation in ERCOT have been increasing.
What powered the peak
| Source | Share of peak generation |
|---|---|
| Natural gas | 48% |
| Solar | 32% |
A second grid record
The Southwest Power Pool, a separate regional grid operator, set its own record peak of 57.9 GW on July 27 at 5:00 p.m. CT, the EIA said. The agency said regions with rising electricity demand are likely to keep setting new peak records during periods of high demand such as heat waves.
