Texas Grid Load at Record Amid Planned U.S. Capacity Spike


   
   SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) -- Sustained heat waves and expanding industrial loads 
pushed electricity consumption across Texas to record highs in August, even as 
power developers nationwide prepare to add a record 86 gigawatts of generating 
capacity in 2026, state and federal data showed Thursday (9/3).

   Hourly load across the Electric Reliability Council of Texas network 
averaged a record 74.5 gigawatts during the week ended August 22, before 
holding near peak levels at 73.7 gigawatts for the week ended August 29, state 
generation data showed.

   The late-August surge exceeded the highest weekly average from summer 2025 
by 10% and topped the previous record of 70.0 gigawatts set in 2023 by 6%.

   Electricity demand across the Texas grid has now surpassed the 2023 summer 
record for six consecutive weeks beginning in late July, ERCOT data showed.

   The surge in power generation coincides with record U.S. marketed natural 
gas output, driven by gains across the Permian and Haynesville basins.

   The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects marketed natural 
gas production to average a record 122.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) 
this year, topping 118.5 Bcf/d in 2025. Production averaged 121.3 Bcf/d during 
the first half of 2026, up 4%, or 4.6 Bcf/d, from the same period in 2025.

   To meet accelerating national load requirements, power plant developers are 
scheduled to bring online 86 gigawatts of utility-scale generating capacity 
across the U.S. electric grid in 2026, according to preliminary EIA generator 
inventory data. If realized, the nationwide additions would mark a substantial 
increase from the 53 gigawatts brought online in 2025.

    




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