Heatwave Drives Record Electricity Demand in Eastern U.S.

Electricity demand soared across the eastern and midwestern United States in June as an intense heatwave gripped the region. The Eastern Interconnection, which covers the mainland U.S. east of the Rockies excluding Texas, experienced unprecedented electricity consumption, according to the EIA. On June 21, peak demand reached 502,670 megawatts (MW) in a single hour, surpassing the 2023 June peak of 467,609 MW. The heatwave brought record-breaking temperatures to several areas. Bangor, Maine, hit 96 degrees on June 20, a record not seen since 1931.…