The Texas power grid is facing its biggest test of the year as scorching temperatures threaten to drive demand for electricity beyond the system’s breaking point.
With electricity consumption projected to climb to an all-time high of almost 80 gigawatts, the state’s grid operator is asking residents and businesses to limit energy usage Monday afternoon. That’s driving up power prices as temperatures climb to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius).
Power grids around the globe are facing severe tests this summer as climate change drives temperatures to record highs and Russia’s war in Ukraine has strained fuel supplies. In the US, officials have warned that a vast swath of the nation, from the Great Lakes to the West Coast, is at risk of blackouts. Texas has already set new records for power demand six times this year, most recently on Friday as a heat wave engulfs the state.
