For the third time in less than a week, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system set an all-time record on Aug. 10 for hourly demand, with peak demand for electricity reaching 69,783 MW between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. and 69,408 MW between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
On Aug. 6, peak demand hit 68,912 MW between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time. That broke a record set just the day before when hourly demand hit 68,459 MW.
The grid operator says wind generation contributed about Wind generation contributed between 2,000 MW and 2,400 MW, with an installed capacity of more than 13,000 MW.
According to ERCOT, the event marks the first time in the grid operator's history that hourly demand broke the 69,000 MW threshold.
‘Our focus continues to be on ensuring we maintain overall reliability and protect the grid while having sufficient generation in place to meet demand,’ says Dan Woodfin, ERCOT's director of system operations.
According to ERCOT, previous all-time peak records are as follows:
- 69,783 MW – Aug. 10, 2015;
- 68,912 MW – Aug. 6, 2015;
- 68,459 MW – Aug. 5, 2015;
- 68,305 MW – Aug. 3, 2011; and
- 67,929 MW – Aug. 2, 2011.
