Intensifying Texas heat is poised to test the power grid on Thursday with demand seen topping 80 gigawatts for the first time ever. Ample winds twirling turbines are expected to bolster electricity supplies, reducing the threat or outages as homeowners and businesses crank up air conditioners across the second-largest US state, according to data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. Electricity use on the grid serving more than 26 million customers is expected to peak at more than 81.4 gigawatts on Thursday afternoon, which would set a record for the 12th time in less two months, according to data from Ercot, as the grid operator is known. The current record of 79.8 gigawatts was set on July 20. During the peak-demand hour on Thursday, wind and other renewables will provide 22% of power supplies, Ercot figures showed. Day-ahead electricity […]