(Reuters) – U.S. spot prices and power rose to new highs on Thursday as Americans rushed to turn up their air conditioners in an effort to avoid a heatwave in the spring.

Gaz futures had already reached a high of 13 years before this heat. This was due to higher European and Asian prices. The increased demand for U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Exports has been strong since the February 24 invasion by Russia. [NGA/]

Pennsylvania’s next-day power was at the PJM West Hub and Pennsylvania’s gas station at Dominion South Hub rose to the highest levels since February 2021, when they were frozen.

AccuWeather predicted that Philadelphia’s high temperature would rise from 79 F (26.1 C) Thursday through 87 F (87 Friday) and 95 Saturday. 75 is the normal city high.

Texas’ Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the grid in most of Texas, predicted that demand would reach a record monthly high on Thursday.

ERCOT reported that there were enough resources in the grid to satisfy demand on Thursday.

ERCOT was forced on May 13 to encourage conservation after several power plants were shut down unplanned, leading to real-time energy prices exceeding $4,000 per megawatt hour.

AccuWeather stated that Houston temperatures have reached the 90s F each day since May 14th and will stay there through Saturday. Normal high in Houston is 87.

ERCOT projected that demand would hit a record high of 72,424 megawatts, (MW), on Thursday. That’s more than the previous May record of 70.804 MW.

Louisiana’s Henry Hub benchmark for next-day gasoline saw its highest level since the 2021 February freeze, when it set a new record.

In Northern California, next-day gas at the PG&E (NYSE:) Citygate rose to its highest since February 2019 for a second day in a row.