Power consumption in Texas reached an all-time high on Tuesday as
consumers turned on their air conditioners to escape a lingering heat wave.
Earlier this week, households and businesses saved energy to help avert rolling blackouts.
The Electric Dependability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which controls the system for more than 26 million customers,
or around 90 percent of the state's power load, warned over the weekend that it would have to adopt
emergency measures, such as rotating blackouts, on Monday to ensure reliability.