Persistent triple-digit temperatures and extreme heat warnings across much of Texas forced ERCOT on Sunday to issue yet another operating condition notice (OCN) as it continues to flirt with the 80-GW threshold.

The Texas grid operator said the OCN, its lowest-level market communication, was necessary because of forecasted temperatures above 103 degrees Fahrenheit in its North Central and South Central weather zones. The seventh OCN issued this summer, the notice was effective Monday until Wednesday.

Extreme heat will still be an issue in Texas and Oklahoma this week. | National Weather Service

Average demand Monday peaked at 78.8 GW during the hour ending at 5 p.m. CT. Staff expect demand Tuesday to just exceed 79 GW.

ERCOT has already set 11 new highs for peak demand this summer, the latest coming Wednesday when load came within 12 MW of breaking the 80-GW barrier. Demand averaged 79.8 GW during the hour ending at 5 p.m. CT.

Demand’s average peak has been above 70 GW every day since June 30. Before this year, ERCOT’s record peak was 74.8 GW, set in August 2019.

The National Weather Service said “sizzling” temperatures will stick around in the South Central U.S. before cooling off into the high 90s. Austin is expecting highs above 100 F into next week.

SPP Cancels Resource Advisory

SPP canceled a resource advisory for Monday, saying its forecast indicated more favorable conditions than originally anticipated. The RTO said it expected lower regionwide power usage and improved system capacity conditions.

The advisory, issued Friday, does not include customer conservation. It was effective noon  to 10 p.m. CT. (See SPP Issues Resource Advisory for Monday.)

“This summer has really put us the to the test,” CEO Barbara Sugg told SPP’s Regional State Committee on Monday.

The RTO’s most recent conservative operations and resource advisories expired as scheduled Thursday night.

SPP set a new mark for peak demand last week at 53.2 GW on July 19. It was the sixth time since July 5 the RTO has recorded a new high. The record before this year was 51.04 GW, set last July.