We know it was hot - a record summer for Baltimore and Washington. And, we know our electric bills were high as we cranked the AC all summer trying to stay cool. Now, the PJM Interconnection - the power grid managers for 13 eastern states and DC - say the region set a record for electrical demand during the summer just ended.
Consumers used almost 203.7 million megawatt-hours of power during June, July and August. That, they say, is enough electricity to run the entire country of Mexico for a year.
The total was 12 percent higher than the summer of 2009, which was unusually cool. And it blasted through the previous summertime record, 203.4 million megawatt-hours, set in 2005.
The demand was 37 percent higher than the average demand, and 47 percent higher than last summer, the PJM folks said.
The PJM region extends from Illinois to New Jersey, and as far south and North Carolina.
(AP PHOTO: George Widman)