As high temperatures and humidity pushed heat indexes into thetriple digits, electric output for the week ending July 24 reached81,144 gigawatt hours (GWh), surpassing the previous record of80,335 GWh set last August, according to data collected by theEdison Electric Institute.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saidthat 40 out of 49 states in the continental U.S., including theDistrict of Columbia, experienced above-normal weekly coolingdegree day totals last week. The largest percentage increase incooling degree days occurred in Ohio, where readings were 70% abovenormal, while Indiana and Illinois reported increases of 57% and48%, respectively.

In addition to record electric output at the national level,numerous individual utilities reported record-high electricitydemand last week. Duke Power set demand records over threeconsecutive days, July 21-23, while American Electric Power set anew summer load peak of 19,795 MW. On July 22, Dayton Power &Light customers set a record peak usage of 3,095 MW, 3% higher thanthe previous year.

Other companies reporting record demands included Carolina Power& Light, Cinergy, Commonwealth Edison, Illinois Power, KansasPower & Light, Madison Gas & Electric, PP&L, andWisconsin Electric Power.

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