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Yes. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says PJM, ERCOT and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP)—identified as “SWPP” in the EIA comparison—each reached a new summer 2026 record for peak hourly load. PJM reached 162.6 gigawatts (GW) on July 2, ERCOT reached 91.1 GW on July 22, and SPP reached 58.0 GW on July 27. The peaks came during regional heat waves in what EIA describes as the hottest summer on record nationally, increasing electricity use for cooling.
The three 2026 records at a glance
| Operator | EIA summer 2026 peak | Date | Increase over EIA comparison record | Operator or independent figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PJM | 162.6 GW (162,600 MW) | July 2, 2026 | 1.3% above 160.6 GW on June 23, 2025 (about 2.0 GW higher) | PJM separately reported a preliminary 168,158 MW estimate that includes demand-response programs. |
| ERCOT | 91.1 GW | July 22, 2026 | 6.5% above 85.5 GW on August 20, 2024 (about 5.6 GW higher) | ERCOT’s peak-demand page lists 91,134 MW; its yearly archive lists 91,089 MW. Recent values remain unofficial until final settlement. |
| SPP (called SWPP in EIA’s series) | 58.0 GW | July 27, 2026 | 3.5% above 56.0 GW on August 21, 2023 (about 2.0 GW higher) | S&P Global reported 58.127 GW for the SPP East Balancing Area, a more precise figure that is not necessarily identical to EIA’s rounded series. |
By the EIA figures, PJM was the largest of the three systems at peak, followed by ERCOT and SPP. The records did not occur simultaneously: each system reached its maximum during a different July heat event.
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How much higher were the new peaks?
PJM: 162.6 GW
PJM’s EIA peak was 2.0 GW above its previous comparison record of 160.6 GW, set on June 23, 2025. That is a 1.3% increase. PJM’s own preliminary estimate was higher—168,158 MW—because it factors in demand-response programs. It is not a directly interchangeable value with the rounded EIA figure.
ERCOT: 91.1 GW
ERCOT’s EIA value was 5.6 GW above the 85.5 GW comparison record from August 20, 2024, a 6.5% increase. ERCOT’s public page gives 91,134 MW for July 22, while its annual archive shows 91,089 MW for the same date. The difference reflects operator reporting and settlement status rather than a different day.
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SPP: 58.0 GW
SPP’s EIA value was 2.0 GW above the 56.0 GW comparison record from August 21, 2023, a 3.5% increase. S&P Global’s 58.127 GW report applies to the SPP East Balancing Area and gives more precision than EIA’s rounded cross-operator series.
Heat and operating pressure drove the records
EIA attributes the peaks to regional heat waves during the hottest summer on record nationally. Higher temperatures increase air-conditioning use, pushing hourly demand upward across multiple systems.
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PJM said its region’s average air temperature reached 97°F on July 2, the hottest-ever average for the RTO. PJM also reported equipment outages and extreme heat that increased operating pressure. The operator said it maintained reliable service through the preliminary record by using all available generation.
Why the numbers differ between EIA and operators
EIA’s cross-operator series
EIA builds its comparison from hourly data reported on Form EIA-930. Those data are published as provided by balancing authorities and can differ from figures later issued by the authorities themselves. EIA rounds the values for its cross-ISO comparison, which is why 91.1 GW and 58.0 GW do not show the same precision as operator or market reports.
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ERCOT measures a full-hour demand record
ERCOT defines a demand record using integrated system load for the full hour, not an instantaneous load reading. Recent records can change through successive settlement passes, so the 91,134 MW and 91,089 MW values should be treated as subject to final operator settlement.
PJM’s demand-response adjustment is preliminary
PJM’s 168,158 MW figure includes demand-response programs and is explicitly preliminary. PJM says official demand-response performance evaluation takes 60 days. Until that evaluation is complete, the demand-response-adjusted number should not be treated as the final settled peak.
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How to interpret the comparison
- Peak hourly load is not generation. It measures electricity demanded during the highest-load hour, not the amount of power produced over the entire day.
- Hourly and instantaneous values are different. ERCOT’s definition, in particular, uses the integrated load for a complete hour.
- GW and MW express the same quantity at different scales. One GW equals 1,000 MW; therefore 162.6 GW equals 162,600 MW.
- The percentages are EIA comparisons. They use EIA’s rounded 2026 values and the prior records identified in that series.
- System size is only one comparison. The three balancing regions have different geographic footprints and load mixes, so a larger raw GW peak does not by itself indicate a greater percentage increase or identical operating conditions.
What is still subject to revision
The EIA comparison establishes that all three regions set new summer 2026 peak-hour records, but the most precise operator numbers are not equally final. ERCOT’s recent values can change through settlement. PJM’s demand-response-adjusted 168,158 MW remains preliminary until its performance evaluation is complete. SPP’s 58.127 GW figure covers the East Balancing Area, while EIA’s 58.0 GW is a rounded value for its broader cross-operator series. Final comparisons should use the operators’ settled data and account for those different measurement boundaries.
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Bottom line
PJM, ERCOT and SPP all broke their previous summer peak-hour records in 2026. EIA recorded peaks of 162.6 GW on July 2, 91.1 GW on July 22 and 58.0 GW on July 27, respectively. Heat-driven cooling demand was the common trigger, while differences in rounding, demand-response treatment, balancing-area scope and settlement explain why operator figures do not match perfectly.
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- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
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