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UPDATE 2-Storm prevents record power demand in Texas
(Updates to show forecasted record did not materialize, updates figures)
LOS ANGELES, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Businesses closings and clouds associated with advancing Tropical Storm Edouard helped the Texas power grid fall short of record electricity demand on Monday, said the grid's operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Triple-digit temperatures over much of Texas caused high air conditioning demand but the peak of 62,124 megawatts between 4 and 5 p.m. (2100-2200 GMT) fell shy of the record of 62,339 MW hit on Aug. 17, 2006, ERCOT said.
Earlier Monday, ERCOT forecast that demand for power could reach 64,098 megawatts.
Monday's peak demand is the highest for 2008.
Tuesday's demand is expected to reach 58,000 MW, down in part due to lower temperatures as the storm passes over Texas, ERCOT said.
Edouard is expected to strike the upper Texas coast on Tuesday.
Utilities on Monday asked customers to curb power use.
The reserve margin -- the amount of power available compared to demand -- fell to less than 2,500 megawatts on Monday when a power plant of more than 700 MW tripped off-line unexpectedly, grid officials said.
The National Weather Service said the heat index in Dallas would reach 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on Monday, and have temperatures over 100 F for the sixth straight day.
Temperatures in Dallas have climbed into the triple digits for eight out of the last nine days and are forecast to top 100 degrees again Tuesday.
For the second time in two weeks, Texans are preparing to deal with a tropical storm. Edouard has a 20 percent chance of strengthening into a hurricane -- which means it would have to reach sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (119 kph).
Late Monday afternoon, its winds were near 50 mph.
When the storm hits, energy traders said it would cause temperatures in the Houston area to decline enough to break the heat wave over at least that part of Texas, causing demand there to drop.
ERCOT says one megawatt typically powers about 200 average homes during hot summer weather.
ERCOT manages the flow of power to about 21 million people in Texas and administers the wholesale electric market, with a generating capacity of about 83,000 MW. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall and Scott DiSavino; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
