Power demand on the largest US grid, operated by PJM Interconnection LLC, reached a record high on July 2, 2026, as temperatures exceeded 100°F (38°C) in the mid-Atlantic region. PJM, which serves 67 million people across 13 states, indicated that demand likely surpassed the previous record of 165.563 gigawatts set in August 2006. The official peak figure will be confirmed after a 60-day period to assess the performance of its 6 gigawatt demand response resources.
Preliminary figures show that the peak instantaneous load was approximately 162.7 gigawatts between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 2, which was impacted by conservation measures. PJM stated, "The peak load is likely to have surpassed the all-time PJM record."
This increase in demand highlights the challenges faced by US electricity grids, particularly amid a surge in artificial intelligence capacity and a shift from stagnant demand over the past two decades to rapid growth in power consumption. PJM issued several emergency alerts during the heat wave, and the Department of Energy ordered all generating units to operate at maximum capacity to prevent blackouts, marking the second such order this summer.
PJM had forecasted a summer demand peak of 156 gigawatts in May, describing a record peak as "unlikely, but plausible." The grid has approximately 180 gigawatts of regular generation capacity and utilizes demand response programs that incentivize customers to reduce usage during peak times.