Electricity Monthly Update
Regional Wholesale Markets: August 2026
The United States has many regional wholesale electricity markets. Below we look at monthly and annual ranges of on-peak, daily wholesale prices at selected pricing locations and daily peak demand for selected electricity systems in the Nation. The range of daily prices and demand data is shown for the report month and for the year ending with the report month.
Prices and demand are shown for six Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) markets: ISO New England (ISO-NE), New York ISO (NYISO), PJM Interconnection (PJM), Midwest ISO (MISO), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and two locations in the California ISO (CAISO). Also shown are wholesale prices at trading hubs in Louisiana (into Entergy), Southwest (Palo Verde) and Northwest (Mid-Columbia). In addition to the RTO systems, peak demand is also shown for the Southern Company, Progress Florida, and the Bonneville Power Authority (BPA). Refer to the map tabs for the locations of the electricity and natural gas pricing hubs and the electric systems for which peak demand ranges are shown.
In the second tab immediately below, we show monthly and annual ranges of on-peak, daily wholesale natural gas prices at selected pricing locations in the United States. The range of daily natural gas prices is shown for the same month and year as the electricity price range chart. Wholesale electricity prices are closely tied to wholesale natural gas prices in all but the center of the country. Therefore, one can often explain current wholesale electricity prices by looking at what is happening with natural gas prices.
Wholesale prices
Wholesale electricity prices in August 2026 reached the upper end of their twelve-month ranges at western trading hubs, while remaining near the lower end at eastern and central hubs. Prices at the Northwest (Mid-C), Northern California, Southern California, and the Southwest (Palo Verde) each reached their highest levels of the twelve-month period ending August 31, 2026. Prices at eastern and central hubs - New England (ISONE), New York City (NYISO), Mid-Atlantic (PJM), Midwest (MISO), Louisiana (into Entergy), and Texas (ERCOT) - traded near the lower end of their twelve-month ranges in August, coming close to but not quite reaching their twelve-month lows. The Mid-Atlantic (PJM) saw a notably wide monthly price range compared to neighboring eastern hubs, spanning from $37/MWh to $150/MWh during August 2026, compared with New England ($47/MWh to $91/MWh) and New York City ($46/MWh to $92/MWh).
Wholesale natural gas prices were at or near twelve-month lows across most markets in August 2026. Henry Hub prices reached the lowest levels of the twelve-month period ending August 31, 2026. Other central and eastern markets — including Midwest (Chicago Citygates), Mid-Atlantic (Tetco M-3), New York City (Transco Z6), Texas (Houston Ship Channel), and Southwest (El Paso) — also traded near the lower end of their twelve-month ranges. Prices at western gas hubs were somewhat higher within their respective ranges, with Northwest (Sumas) prices in the upper portion of its yearly range. Southern California (SoCal Border) saw a notably wide monthly price range during August 2026, from around $2.71/MMBtu to $7.03/MMBtu, well above the tight ranges seen at most other hubs during the month.
Electricity system daily peak demand
Peak electricity demand was elevated across the country in August 2026, with most regions seeing daily peak demand in the upper portion of their twelve-month ranges. California (CAISO) reached its twelve-month high during the month, with Texas (ERCOT) and Southern Company also seeing demand near the upper end of their twelve-month ranges. Texas (ERCOT) peak demand in August came close to, but did not exceed, the twelve-month high set in July 2026. New England (ISONE), New York State (NYISO), Midwest (MISO), and Progress Florida each saw peak demand in the upper half of their twelve-month ranges. Peak demand in the Mid-Atlantic (PJM) and Northwest (Bonneville Power Admin.) was in the middle of their respective twelve-month ranges during the month.