PRESS RELEASE
August 17, 2006
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ERCOT Sets New Record for Electricity Demand

Texans use 63,056 megawatts* of electricity. 

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT), the electric grid operator for most of the state, today set a new electricity usage record.  Consumers used an average of 63,056 megawatts* (MW) of power over the peak hour ending at 5 p.m., exceeding the previous all-time peak of 62,396* MW set on July 17, 2006.

“It’s extremely hot – and that translates into high power usage,” said Sam Jones, ERCOT CEO.  “Part of this new record can also be attributed to the growing economy and population in Texas.” 

Friday’s demand is not projected to set another record.

*11-14-06 Update: The August 17 hourly peak was adjusted to 62,339 MW following the final settlement period.   Final settlement numbers are subject to change again following the true-up period (six months after operating day).

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 21 million Texas customers – representing 85 percent of the state’s electric load and 75 percent of the Texas land area. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects 38,000 miles of transmission lines and more than 550 generation units. ERCOT also manages financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers customer switching for 6 million Texans in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, independent generators, independent power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers), and municipal-owned electric utilities.

Contact
Dottie Roark 512-225-7024