Arizona power demand breaks records during heatwave

July 18 (Reuters) - Electricity demand from customers of the Arizona Public Service (APS) soared to an all-time peak for the second time in a week, on July 15, mirroring similar trends in Texas as grid operators grapple with a heatwave in parts of the United States.

The peak demand of 8,191 megawatts (MW) was reached on July 15 after 17 straight days of temperatures at or above 110 Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) and air conditioners cranking to keep Arizonans cool, the state's largest utility said in a release on Monday.

The prior record of 7,660 MW was hit on July 30, 2020, the APS said.

APS serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona's 15 counties.

"We’re using all the tools in our toolbox from solar power to natural gas to make sure customers can count on us for electricity every second of the day," Justin Joiner, vice president of resource management at APS said in the release.

With baking temperatures also hitting Europe during the peak summer tourist season, the World Meteorological Organization said the heatwave in the northern hemisphere was set to intensify over the coming days and warned of an increased risk to health.

In Texas, the grid operator representing about 90% of the state's power load said on Monday that it had enough resources available to meet soaring demand, which broke records for a fourth time this summer. Power use is expected to peak yet again on Tuesday. (Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean)