In a summer marked by record-breaking temperatures, small business owners across the United States face a critical challenge: energy demand has surged to unprecedented levels. According to recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), three regional transmission organizations (RTOs) — PJM, ERCOT, and SWPP — all set new peak hourly load records during the sweltering heat of 2026. Understanding these developments is essential for small business owners looking to navigate potential impacts on operations and costs.
The data indicates that PJM reached a peak of 162.6 gigawatts (GW) on July 2, 2026, surpassing its previous high of 160.6 GW from June 2025. ERCOT, which manages the electricity grid for Texas, experienced a significant increase, peaking at 91.1 GW on July 22, 2026, which is 6.5% above its earlier record. Similarly, the Southwest Power Pool recorded a peak load of 58.0 GW on July 27, 2026, marking a 3.5% increase from its previous highs.
These peaks were largely driven by an exceptionally hot summer, which created soaring demand for air conditioning and cooling solutions. “The hottest summer on record nationally led to higher cooling demand and stressed regional grids,” the EIA noted, a situation that small business owners should prepare for as rising temperatures can directly affect both energy costs and customer footfall.
