Record May Peak Demand Coming Wednesday: Grid Roundup #57

With a monster peak coming Wednesday amid 100+ degree temps in large portions of the state, we’re about to be reminded why solar & storage have large benefits for the Texas grid

In this edition:

• ERCOT is forecasting a peak of over 84 gigawatts which would shatter the previous May record of 77 gigawatts and even threaten the all-time demand record. ERCOT expects plenty of extra capacity despite large thermal power plant outages; solar power is expected to deliver well over 20 gigawatts. Should various anti-energy bills (SB 715/HB 3356, SB 388, SB 819) become law, these kinds of events would almost certainly create energy emergencies;

• Senate Bill 231, the bill which would allow the disastrous and wasteful mobile generation program to continue to operate, is up for hearing in State Affairs this morning;

• The PUC will consider ERCOT’s new methodology for forecasting demand at their Open Meeting on Thursday.

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