Triple-digit temperatures and record usage led to mid-June power outages, Oncor says

Triple-digit temperatures and record electricity usage were responsible for power outages that affected thousands of Texans last week.

Temperatures in Dallas-Fort Worth reached a record 103 degrees on June 11 and 102 degrees on June 12. Normal highs for those dates are around the low 90s, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

ERCOT reported more than 75,000 megawatts of demand on June 12, the highest ever for the state.

As temperatures and usage soared, more than 3,000 statewide Oncor customers dealt with power outages on June 12, with more than two-thirds of those customers in North Texas, according to KXAS.

The combination of record heat and record usage put additional stress on Oncor’s equipment, which lead to the majority of the outages, spokesperson Kerry Dunn said.

Oncor saw pockets of outages in North Texas as well as southern and eastern areas of the state.

Since then, temperatures have remained in the upper 90s and hit triple digits again on Thursday. Electricity usage has remained high, with more than 71,000 megawatts of demand Sunday afternoon.

But Oncor hasn’t seen the extent of power outages since that record-setting weekend, according to its outage map.

With drought conditions early in the year and summer heat occurring earlier than normal, Texas is likely to experience a hotter than normal summer.

Dunn said the record-setting weekend was a unique combination of high temperatures and high usage, and Oncor is prepared for summer weather.

“Anytime you have a power outage it’s a frustrating experience,” Dunn said. “... We’ll be ready to respond if any outages do occur.”