Texas power use to break records next week as heatwave returns

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(Reuters) - Power demand in Texas will likely hit new all-time highs next week as economic growth boosts overall use and homes and businesses crank up their air conditioners to escape another heat wave.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the grid for more than 26 million customers representing about 90% of the state's power load, has said it has enough energy resources available to meet demand.

Extreme weather is a reminder of the February freeze in 2021 that left millions of Texans without power, water and heat for days during a deadly storm as ERCOT scrambled to prevent a grid collapse after an unusually large amount of generation shut.

AccuWeather said temperatures in Houston, the biggest city in Texas, will rise from the mid 80s degrees Fahrenheit (28.9 degrees Celsius) on Friday to the mid 90s F next week. That compares with a normal high of 93 F for this time of year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/texas-power-use-to-break-records-next-week-as-heatwave-returns/ar-AAZ4S5a

Does Ted Cruz have his reservations made? Maybe he can head back to Canada.

[TwilightZone]

1. Mid 90s in Houston in July is not unusual or "extreme"

That's pretty much the norm, if slightly higher. As noted in the article, the average high is 93F.

Texas is breaking records primarily because we have a record number of people on the grid and the population is increasing at a rapid rate, not just because it's hot. Here in Austin, it's essentially 95F here every day for months.

[NickB79]

2. It's the lack of nighttime cooling more than the daytime highs

It's a well-known effect of climate change and city heat islands. Overnight temps stay high, requiring AC to run more over all.

https://www.popsci.com/story/environment/warming-nighttime-temperatures-climate/

[TwilightZone]

3. Those aren't any higher, either.

Average low is 77F. Forecast is 78F-79F.

Again, the temps are not the primary problem, because this is how it is here every year. It's because it's difficult to keep up with a constant, massive influx of people. The record demand is because there's a record number of people and more moving here all the time.

[shanti]

4. Yes

Give thanks for the Delta breeze here in Sac!