The record-setting Valley heat pushed demand for energy from Salt River Project to an all-time high on July 18, according to the Tempe-based utility.

And SRP officials said the company also delivered a multi-day record peak electricity demand for most power served to customers in summer.

Between 4-5 p.m. July 18 SRP delivered its highest system peak demand of 8,163 megawatts. One megawatt is enough energy to power about 225 average homes. July 19 and 20 reached peaks of more than 8,000 MW.

The high temperature recorded on July 18 was 118 degrees.

SRP’s system peak from last year was 7,620 MW, which occurred July 11, officials said, adding power demand this summer exceeded the previous summer peak across 66 hours on 15 different days.

SRP attributed the increase to a series of extreme daytime temperatures consistently over 110 degrees, higher overnight temperatures and a growing number of Valley residents and businesses.

“To meet record demand multiple days in a row requires a combination of all SRP’s power generation resources, including natural gas and renewables,” Pam Syrjala, SRP’s director of supply, trading and fuels, said.

“We conduct careful planning throughout the year to ensure our ability to meet forecasted summer peak demand, including making sure we will have available operating reserves.”

“Residential and commercial customers also help us by participating in SRP’s demand response programs and reducing energy usage on the hottest days,” Syrjala said.

For more: savewithsrp.com.