Monopoly Area Monday

Welcome to Grid Brief! Today, we’re looking at power generation in America’s traditional monopoly areas with relevant news items. Scroll to the end for great conversation starters about stalled renewable projects, questionable EV range in super-hot weather, and more.

With hot weather continuing across much of the US, we saw another uptick in demand, pushing most days to nearly 700,000 megawatthours of power.

And here’s a map to orient you as we move through the areas:

Northeast

New England faced a significant surge in electricity demand due to persistent high temperatures. On June 20, demand peaked at 23,324 MW, surpassing the previous day's peak by 521 MW. This spike in usage was met primarily by increased natural gas consumption, which nearly doubled from the previous week's levels. With temperatures expected to cool, demand is anticipated to decrease in the coming days.Carolinas

The Carolinas saw a bump in demand this week that was met with a boost from solar and uptick from coal plants.

Tennessee (TVA)

Southeast

The Southeast saw high electricity demand met predominantly by natural gas and nuclear power.

Florida

Typical Florida weather and some spring storms kept power generation on par with usual.

Texas (ERCOT)

Texas continues to experience soaring electricity demand, particularly in Southeast Texas. Entergy Texas is ramping up efforts to meet this demand, including the construction of new natural gas and solar power plants. Despite recent additions like the Montgomery County gas plant, further increases in generation capacity are urgently needed to keep pace with the region's rapid growth and prevent potential blackouts.

Northwest

The Northwest experienced cooler and wetter weather compared to the rest of the country. This led to higher hydroelectric generation and reduced reliance on natural gas.

Southwest

The Southwest had hot and dry conditions, typical for the season, which led to stable energy generation patterns. Solar and natural gas continued to dominate the energy mix, reflecting the region's reliance on these sources during peak summer heat​

Conversation Starters

The Heat is On: How Hot Weather Impacts EV Range. A new study with real-world data from over 7,500 electric cars reveals how summer heat affects EV range. While EVs typically lose 2-5% of range below 90°F, extreme heat can lead to significant drops. The Chevrolet Bolt EV loses 9% at 90°F and up to 20% at nearly 100°F, while the Hyundai Kona EV maintains efficiency up to 93°F but starts to dip afterward. The Nissan LEAF performs the worst, losing 22% at 90°F.

Renewable Energy Stalled: Midwest Projects Face Major Delays. Hundreds of renewable energy projects in the Midwest are stuck in limbo due to grid connection delays, supply chain issues, and high upgrade costs. Despite approvals, projects like Wisconsin’s Saratoga Solar remain unbuilt. Nationwide, over 11,000 clean energy projects are waiting to connect, slowed by bureaucratic hurdles and expensive grid upgrades.

Ecuador Hit by Massive Power Outage. A nationwide electricity outage struck Ecuador on Wednesday, plunging 18 million people into darkness, including the capital's subway system. Public Works Minister Roberto Luque cited a failure in the transmission line causing a cascade disconnection. Traffic lights and the Quito Metro ground to a halt, creating chaos on the streets.