Texans urged to save energy as extreme heatwave strains power grid

(The Guardian, 12 Jul 2022) Electricity demand expected to surpass supply as temperatures hit triple digits, shattering records.

Texans sweltering under record temperatures and high humidity have been urged to conserve energy as the power grid struggles to cope with a surge in demand.

An extreme heatwave across the south-west and central US has led to searing temperatures since Friday, with heat warnings in place for millions of Americans until at least midweek.

In Texas, temperatures hit triple digits Fahrenheit over the weekend, with some places breaking century-old records. On Saturday, Waco reached 108F, smashing the 104F high set in 1917. On Sunday, more than a dozen record highs were set throughout the state as temperatures topped 110F in central Texas.

As dangerous heat continued across large parts of the state, electricity demand was expected to outstrip supply on Monday afternoon, with rolling outages – coordinated suspensions to protect essential services – deemed “possible” but “not likely”, according to the grid operator, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (Ercot).

External link

The Guardian, 11 Jul 2022: Texans urged to save energy as extreme heatwave strains power grid