Texas grid breaks demand record as solar and batteries hold the line

Overview

Updated Jul 30

In February 2021, a winter storm knocked out the Texas power grid and hundreds of people died in the cold. On July 22, 2026, that same grid pulled its heaviest load ever, about 91,089 megawatts, and nobody was asked to turn down the air conditioning.

New solar farms and giant batteries added since 2023 gave the grid roughly 20,000 megawatts of spare capacity at the peak. ERCOT expects demand to nearly double by 2032 as data centers pour into the state. Both the grid operator and state regulators are now asking Texas lawmakers for more authority to control how those facilities connect to the grid and who pays for the upgrades.

Why it matters

Texas runs its own grid for 27 million people. Whether it holds up as data centers arrive decides who keeps the lights and air conditioning on.

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Key Indicators

91,089 MW

New peak demand

All-time high load on the ERCOT grid, set July 22, 2026.

85,508 MW

Old record

Previous peak, set in August 2023.

20,000 MW

Spare capacity at peak

Buffer between demand and committed generation when the record hit.

~175,000 MW

2032 demand forecast

ERCOT's projection, nearly double the new record.

70%

Solar and batteries in queue

Share of the 460,000 MW waiting to connect to the grid.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

Pablo Vegas

President and CEO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)

Leading the grid operator through record demand and rapid load growth

Thomas Gleeson

Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)

Overseeing the state agency that regulates ERCOT

Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas

Directed PUCT and ERCOT to require data centers to fund their own grid infrastructure; set July 31 deadline for transmission cost action

Organizations Involved

ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)

Grid operator

Managed the record-setting week without incident

ERCOT operates the power grid for about 90% of Texas, a system that runs mostly on its own and connects little to neighboring states.

Public Utility Commission of Texas

State Regulatory Agency

Responding to Governor Abbott's data center directive; seeking expanded legislative authority; December 2026 rulemaking deadline

The PUCT regulates electric utilities in Texas and oversees ERCOT's market rules.

Timeline

February 2021 July 2026

9 events Latest: July 29th, 2026 · 1 month ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

July 2026
ERCOT warns demand could double by 2032
Latest Statement

Vegas tells state senators demand may reach roughly 175,000 megawatts by 2032, driven by data centers, and warns of a gas shortfall.
July 29th, 2026
ERCOT and PUCT ask lawmakers for broader authority over data centers
Regulatory

ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission formally asked state lawmakers to expand their authority to regulate how data centers connect to the grid and who pays for required infrastructure upgrades.
July 28th, 2026
PUCT and ERCOT release joint response to Abbott's data center directive
Regulatory

The two agencies released their memorandum to Governor Abbott's office, detailing steps already taken to require data centers to pay for the grid infrastructure they need and protect residential ratepayers.
July 24th, 2026
Grid holds through second day of record heat
Milestone

Demand stays near the record as the heat wave continues. Solar and battery storage again carry the peak without a conservation call.
July 23rd, 2026
All-time peak of 91,089 MW
Milestone

Demand hits 91,089 megawatts. The grid holds with more than 20,000 megawatts of spare capacity and no conservation request.
July 22nd, 2026 • 5:00 PM
Heat wave pushes a fresh record
Milestone

As temperatures climb, demand tops 87,000 megawatts, passing the 2023 mark for the first time.
July 21st, 2026
June 2026
Abbott directs regulators to make data centers pay for their own grid costs
Government Action

Governor Greg Abbott directed PUCT and ERCOT to require data centers to fund their own electric infrastructure and prevent those costs from reaching residential bills. He set a July 31 deadline for PUCT to act on transmission costs.
June 10th, 2026
August 2023
Grid sets prior demand record
Milestone

ERCOT records a peak of 85,508 megawatts during a hot summer, the highest load to that point.
August 10th, 2023
February 2021
Winter Storm Uri collapses the grid
Crisis

A deep freeze knocks out power plants across Texas. Millions lose electricity for days and hundreds die.
February 14th, 2021

Scenarios

Grid sets another demand record before summer ends

Likely Resolves by Q3 2026

Discussed by: ERCOT summer outlook; Texas Tribune

Texas summers run hot into September, and ERCOT's pre-season forecast already pointed above 92 gigawatts. Another heat wave, plus steady load growth, could push demand past the July 22 mark before the season ends.

ERCOT issues a conservation call during a peak event

Possible Resolves by Q3 2026

Discussed by: Renewable Energy World; ERCOT operations updates

So far the grid has met every 2026 peak without asking for cutbacks. A cloudy, still evening after a hot day, when solar fades and batteries drain, could force ERCOT to request voluntary conservation to keep reserves safe.

Texas moves to add firm gas capacity for the 2030s

Possible Resolves by Jul 1, 2027

Discussed by: PUCT; ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas; Texas Legislature

Regulators say the grid needs more dispatchable gas power to cover hours when solar quits. The state's Texas Energy Fund already backs new gas plants. Watch for new loan awards or plant announcements aimed at the projected 2032 demand.

PUCT finalizes data center cost rules by December 2026

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Governor Abbott's June 10 directive; PUCT rulemaking process

Governor Abbott directed PUCT to act on transmission costs by July 31. The commission expects to finalize its rulemaking on how data center costs are distributed among consumers by December 2026. A final rule would set binding standards for how new large-load customers fund grid upgrades.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

August 2020

California rolling blackouts (2020)

A heat wave across the West left California short of power in the early evening, after solar output dropped. Grid operator CAISO ordered rotating outages for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Then

Hundreds of thousands lost power for an hour or two on two evenings.

Now

California went on a battery-buying spree. Storage now routinely covers the post-sunset peak that once triggered outages.

Why this matters now

It shows the exact risk Texas regulators name: the gap between sundown and demand. Batteries closed it in California and are doing the same in Texas.

February 2021

Winter Storm Uri (2021)

A severe cold snap froze gas wells, wind turbines, and power plants across Texas at once. ERCOT ordered rolling blackouts that stretched for days. Millions lost heat and water in freezing homes.

Then

State officials put the death toll in the hundreds. The grid came within minutes of a total, weeks-long collapse.

Now

Texas overhauled its power market rules and pushed weatherization and new generation. The failure became the benchmark against which every later grid test is measured.

Why this matters now

Uri is why a record without a blackout is news. The July 2026 peak shows how much the grid changed in five years.