The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that three major U.S. regional power grids—PJM, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and the Southwest Power Pool (SWPP)—set new records for peak electricity demand during summer 2026. PJM reached 162.6 gigawatts (GW) on July 2, ERCOT peaked at 91.1 GW on July 22, and SWPP reached 58.0 GW on July 27, surpassing their previous records by 1.3%, 6.5%, and 3.5%, respectively.
Regional heat waves and exceptionally high temperatures largely drove record demand by increasing electricity use for air conditioning. Other grid operators also approached previous peak-demand records, including the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), ISO New England (ISO-NE), and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). The figures highlight rising electricity demand during extreme summer weather and the need to maintain sufficient generation and grid capacity to ensure reliable power supplies.
