Texas power use hits record for sixth time this summer as heat wave lingers

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece in Reuters or enjoy below 

🗞️ Driving the news: Texas power demand hit a record high for the sixth time this summer on Monday, as residents continued to use air conditioners extensively to combat a persistent heatwave
• The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), responsible for operating the grid for over 26 million customers, confirmed that it had sufficient resources to cater to the increased demand

🔭 The context:  With the grim recollections of the devastating 2021 storm still lingering, Texas grapples with renewed fears about grid stability amidst severe weather
• Yet, the state's growing commitment to wind and solar power provides a silver lining, aiding in power provision during times of soaring demand

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The increased usage of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to meet the record-breaking demand could be seen as a step towards reducing the state's reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to global efforts to tackle climate change

⏭️ What's next: With the ongoing heatwave, ERCOT is expecting power usage to reach 84,332 MW on Tuesday, which would once again break the demand record set on Monday

📈 One stat: ERCOT's preliminary estimation indicates that power usage hit 83,047 MW on Monday, which is approximately 2,744 MW over last year's demand record of 80,148 MW set in July 2022.

Click for more news covering the latest on energy