Hey Texas, are you melting yet? The first day of summer was just last week, and already the temperatures are a sweltering 100 degrees.

According to a press release distributed yesterday by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state set a new June record for peak electric demand. Electric use during the 4-5 p.m. hour averaged out at 65,047 megawatts (MW). The previous record for June was 63,102 MW, which occurred on June 17, 2011.

Some steps everyone can take to reduce demand on the grid during these peak demand hours include the following:

• Turn your thermostat up by two or three degrees in the late afternoon.
• Microwaves use substantially less energy than ovens. Use one when cooking and reheating items.
• Use energy-saving light-bulbs.
• No more laundry! Just kidding. But the excessive heat gives you a great reason to do laundry late at night or early in the morning.

For additional tips, visit the Direct Energy Facebook page and download the ERCOT app.

How are you beating the Texas heat this summer?