FactSet reported that electric load across the Lower 48 U.S. states averaged a record 541 gigawatts (GW) in September 2026, up 8.7% (43.5 GW) from the previous record set a year earlier. The increased demand reflects rising cooling needs amid record temperatures, as well as growing data center power requirements. NOAA reported that this September was the hottest on record in the Lower 48 states, with temperatures averaging 69.4 degrees Fahrenheit.