Happy Summer and welcome to another edition of Watt's Up Wednesday! This month, we're excited to introduce the newest member of our Commercial Sales team and highlight a chance to get outside, stay active, and connect with the community. Thanks for taking a few minutes to catch up on the latest happenings at Atlantic Energy! |
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ERCOT electricity prices remained relatively subdued during May 2026 as mild spring temperatures, strong renewable generation, and expanding battery storage resources helped suppress scarcity conditions across much of the month. Looking ahead, the outlook for Summer 2026 is increasingly dependent on weather, with both ERCOT and NOAA forecasting a higher likelihood of above-normal temperatures across Texas from June through August. Long-range forecasts indicate heat is expected to intensify as the summer progresses, particularly during July and August, while ERCOT projects peak demand could reach a record 92 GW, exceeding the previous all-time high set in 2023. Although nearly 11 GW of new generation and storage capacity has been added since last summer and ERCOT currently forecasts a low probability of emergency conditions, sustained heat waves could still produce significant price volatility, especially during late afternoon and evening hours when solar generation declines and demand remains elevated. The emerging El Niño pattern may moderate hurricane activity later in the season but is not expected to materially reduce Texas summer heat risk. As a result, market participants should expect generally manageable pricing under normal weather conditions, but remain prepared for periods of elevated real-time prices and scarcity-driven volatility during extended hot-weather events, particularly in July and August when both load forecasts and temperature anomalies are expected to peak. |
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PJM electricity prices during May 2026 remained relatively moderate as mild temperatures across much of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest limited cooling demand, while strong natural gas supply fundamentals helped keep generation costs contained. Looking ahead to Summer 2026, the pricing outlook is becoming increasingly weather-sensitive as NOAA forecasts above-normal temperatures across much of the PJM footprint, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and Northeast population centers. While fuel prices remain relatively low by historical standards and system reliability is expected to remain adequate under normal conditions, traders are closely monitoring the potential for sustained heat waves that could tighten reserve margins and produce significant price volatility, especially in capacity-constrained zones such as Dominion, ATSI, and portions of eastern PJM. The combination of growing data center demand, tightening capacity markets, and above-normal summer temperature forecasts suggests that forward power prices should remain well supported through the summer, with the greatest upside risk occurring during extended periods of extreme heat when both electricity demand and gas-fired generation requirements increase simultaneously. |
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RUN TEXAS THIS SUMMER
with a special discount from AE Texas
We are proud to be a sponsor of Houston Running Co.! This summer, they are hosting multiple races across Texas, including events in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating, be sure to use our discount code at registration to receive $5 off your race entry. We hope to see you at the starting line!
Just enter AEPOWER for $5 off! Click the link below to find a 5k or 10k race near you! |
ARE YOU GOING TO TEPA?
Are you heading to TEPA in any of the cities listed below? If so, we’d love to know! Let our team know where you’ll be so we can keep an eye out and connect while you’re there.
- August 5 - Chicago, IL
- November 4-5 - Austin, TX (National Conference)
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We’re excited to welcome Connie Crespo to our sales team! She joined us on June 1st as a Commercial Sales Manager. She will support our commercial Sales Partners in ERCOT and PJM. |
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ERCOT Battery Growth Is Changing Texas Power Markets
Texas entered 2026 with nearly 14 GW of battery storage capacity, almost double the prior year's level. Market analysts report that batteries are increasingly reducing peak-price volatility by storing low-cost solar generation and discharging during high-demand periods. ERCOT's RTC+B market design is accelerating this shift by integrating batteries more deeply into real-time market operations. However, rapid demand growth from data centers and industrial expansion could absorb many of these reliability gains. The development marks one of the most significant structural changes in any deregulated electricity market in North America. KillowattLogic |
Natural Gas Prices Jump as Summer Demand Builds
Natural gas futures posted one of their strongest short-term rallies of the year, climbing more than 13% over two trading sessions. Analysts point to hotter weather forecasts, stronger cooling demand expectations, and tighter-than-expected storage injections as primary drivers. While U.S. gas production remains high, growing LNG exports and increasing power-sector demand continue to tighten market balances. For deregulated electricity markets, rising natural gas prices could translate into higher wholesale power prices throughout the summer, particularly in gas-dependent regions such as ERCOT and PJM. The Wall Street Journal |
Q'Marrie West - Operations - Customer Experience
With more than eight years of experience in the energy industry, Q'Marrie West has built a career focused on operational excellence, customer success, and employee development. Leveraging a background in Communications and Management, she has successfully led customer success operations for two near-shore Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) teams of more than 40 professionals, driving improvements in training, employee engagement, and knowledge retention.
Known for combining strategic thinking with a people-first approach, Q'Marrie continues to champion customer success while empowering teams to achieve meaningful results. Outside of work, she is actively involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., enjoys spending time with her seven-month-old Chocolate Red-Nose Yorkshire Terrier, and values making memories with her family of four.
As the energy industry evolves, Q'Marrie remains committed to inspiring others, overcoming challenges, and creating a lasting impact through leadership and service.
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Commercial Team
commercial@atlanticenergyco.com |
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Residential Team
avengrouskie@atlanticenergyco.com |
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