Power · Oct 19, 2026, 10:16
ERCOT's 91.1 GW Peak Led Three US Grid Load Records This Summer
EIA data shows ERCOT hit a 91.1 GW hourly peak in summer 2026, 6.5% above its 2024 record, as heat waves drove record highs at PJM, ERCOT and SPP.
Power lines under a summer sky.
Illustration (AI-generated)
Washington, October 15 — Three US regional grid operators, including ERCOT at 91.1 GW, set records for peak hourly load in summer 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data from Form EIA-930. PJM, ERCOT and the Southwest Power Pool all exceeded prior highs, mostly during heat waves in the hottest US summer on record.
Four other operators came within 4% of their records. MISO posted the highest value in the EIA hourly monitor but stayed below its 2011 peak.
The Technical Details
EIA attributes most of the peaks to regional heat waves that pushed up cooling demand. The data is reported by balancing authorities as-is and can differ from figures operators publish directly.
- PJM: 162.6 GW on July 2, 1.3% above 160.6 GW (June 23, 2025)
- ERCOT: 91.1 GW on July 22, 6.5% above 85.5 GW (August 20, 2024)
- SPP: 58.0 GW on July 27, 3.5% above 56.0 GW (August 21, 2023)
- CAISO: 50.0 GW on September 9, vs. 51.1 GW record (2022)
Sources
- PJM, ERCOT, and SWPP All Set Peak Load Records This Summer · CleanTechnica
