PJM, ERCOT, and SPP All Set New Summer Peak Electricity Demand Records This Summer

The summer of 2026 tested the U.S. electric grid with record heat and rising demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Hourly Electric Grid Monitor (based on Form EIA-930 data), three major regional transmission organizations (RTOs) set new peak hourly load records.⁠Eia PJM (serving roughly 65–67 million people across all or parts of 13 […]

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ENB Weekly Rig Count Comparison of Baker Hughes, Enverus and WellDatabase — Rigs Are Up

As of mid-October 2026, U.S. drilling activity continues to firm. Baker Hughes reported its closely watched weekly rotary rig count at 603 for the week ending October 9 (up 5 week-over-week and up 56 year-over-year from 547). WellDatabase’s U.S. Rig Report dated 10.14.2026 showed 608 total rigs (up 6 week-over-week and up 52 year-over-year). Enverus’ […]

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Energy Department Authorizes Limited SPR Exchange Amid Hurricane Disruptions as Reserve Hits 1980s Lows

The U.S. Department of Energy on October 10, 2026, authorized an emergency exchange of up to 4 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to address supply disruptions from hurricane activity in the Gulf of America. Source –⁠Energy ExxonMobil and BP America each received authority for up to 2 million barrels. […]

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DOE Kicks Off a Huge Investment into America’s Electric Grid

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity announced on September 24, 2026, that it intends to help fund 31 grid-improvement projects across 26 states under the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) initiative. The package totals $5.25 billion—$1.9 billion in federal funding and $3.35 billion in […]

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US Rig Count Up Slightly This Week as We Compare Baker Hughes, Enverus, and WellDatabase

U.S. oil and gas drillers posted a modest weekly gain according to the industry’s most widely followed benchmark, while production continues to hold near record levels. This points to ongoing capital discipline even as output edges higher. The Latest Rig Counts Baker Hughes reported the U.S. rotary rig count rose 5 week-over-week to 593 for […]

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Since 2007, Shale Gas Has Saved U.S. Consumers Approximately $200 Billion Annually — A Quiet Revolution in Affordability

A new analysis from the Energy Institute at Haas at UC Berkeley quantifies what many in the energy sector have long known: the shale gas revolution, powered by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, has delivered extraordinary savings to American consumers. According to Lucas Davis’s May 2026 working paper and accompanying blog post, shale gas has […]

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