Texas grid operator braces for tight supply-demand balance this summer

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) expects a tight supply-demand balance across its grid this summer as the oil and gas industry, along with new industrial load, continue to drive electricity demand higher. On Wednesday, the grid operator for most of the state released its final Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy (SARA) for the summer, predicting a new all-time peak demand record and the likely need to enter Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) status to maintain reliability. ERCOT's analysis forecasts peak summer demand of 74,853 MW, which would be 1.3 GW higher than the previous peak set last July. Total generation resource capacity is expected to be 78,929 MW.