News and Updates

Phoenix, Ariz. —   For the third year in a row, Arizona utilities again set new record highs for peak energy demand during the summer of 2026. On July 24, 2026, both Arizona Public Service Company (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) broke previous peak demand records.  The high temperature in the Phoenix metro area was 117 degrees.  For the first time, both utilities hit a peak demand of over 9,000 MW during a single hour – well above original forecasts.  APS delivered 9,060 MW on July 24, 2026, while SRP had a higher demand of 9,072 MW that same day.  On August 2, 2026, APS set another new record, hitting a peak demand of 9,164 MW. 

Company      2026                                         2025                        2024

APS                  9,164 Megawatts (MW)       8,648 MW                 8,210 MW

SRP                  9,072 MW                              8,542 MW                 8,205 MW

TEP                  2,421 MW                               2,502 MW                2,445 MW      

"The unprecedented strain on Arizona’s power grid this summer highlights how vital forward-looking preparation truly is," stated Chairman Nick Myers. "Surpassing our original electricity forecasts for summer 2026 serves as a clear reminder that we must aggressively expand dependable energy resources while simultaneously encouraging conservation during peak hours. The Commission remains fully focused on securing a stable and resilient power grid."

“As a Commission, we are focused on ensuring reliable energy at the most affordable rates. We host a number of public sessions each year to ensure that we are prepared for the heat of summer (Summer Preparedness Workshop) as well as planning for future transmission needs to ensure power supply availability (Biennial Transmission Workshop),” stated Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson.  "I encourage the public to attend these workshops virtually via azcc.gov to learn more about the regulated utilities’ energy and economic projections."

"Arizona's grid consistently ranks as one of the most reliable grids in the country for good reason," said Commissioner Kevin Thompson. "We've had tremendous load growth over the last decade, and infrastructure has done a good job of keeping pace. As regulators, we must balance maintaining reliability and affordability, while preserving our quality of life."

The Commission works diligently to ensure Arizonans do not experience rolling blackouts due to an overloaded grid.  One of the Commission’s top priorities has been enhancing the reliability and stability of our power grid.  The Commission has recently approved the interconnections of about a dozen new generation and infrastructure projects over the past year, ensuring our utilities continue to meet the ever-increasing electricity demand.  Since January, several new generating units have gone online in Arizona, adding more than 2,800 MW of capacity to Arizona’s power grid during the first six months of this year (according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_6_03).

During the Arizona Corporation Commission’s 2026 Summer Preparedness Workshop in May, the state’s largest utilities shared their summer forecasts with the Commission, showing they were prepared to produce a combined total of nearly 24,500 MW of electricity to meet customers’ surging summer demands.  

2026 PEAK DEMAND FORECAST