PJM, ERCOT, and SWPP all set peak load records this summer

This summer was the hottest on record nationally, and it pushed the electric grid harder than ever in several parts of the country. Three regional grid operators set all-time records for peak electricity demand: PJM, which covers much of the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest, hit 162.6 gigawatts on July 2; ERCOT, which runs Texas's grid, hit 91.1 gigawatts on July 22; and the Southwest Power Pool, covering a swath of the central U.S., hit 58.0 gigawatts on July 27. In each case, the old record was broken during a regional heat wave, as more air conditioners ran harder and longer to keep homes cool.

A few other grid operators came close to their records without breaking them. California's grid operator reached 50.0 gigawatts, just under its 2022 peak. New England and New York also saw high demand in early July, close to records set last year. The Midwest grid operator hit its highest load in recent data, though still below a 2011 record.

None of this changes anything you need to do right away, but it is a reminder that summer cooling demand keeps climbing as heat waves get more intense, and grids in many regions are increasingly tested at the margins. If you live in one of these areas, the strain on the system during extreme heat is part of why utilities and states keep pushing efficiency upgrades like better insulation, air sealing, or efficient cooling equipment — steps that lower your own home's peak demand even as the broader grid faces more pressure each summer.