ERCOT grid peak demand
a16z's area chart drew 31.6K views on X: 0.4x its typical post and #43 of 43 a16z charts we track by views. Read Oct 14, 2026.
Left: Texas's grid only maxes out about 200 hours a year, roughly 2% of the time.
Why it spread
It spread because the post explained itself clearly and used an unusual chart type, earning 220 likes, 28 reposts, 2 quotes, 125 saves, and 30,798 views, though that was only 0.7 times the account's typical likes of 333.
What worked
- The post text explains the chart in plain language, noting that Texas's grid only maxes out about 200 hours a year, roughly 2% of the time.
- The area chart form is unusual for this kind of grid data, which helped it stand out.
- The post is self labelling and branded, with a source line, which made it easy to trust and share.
What to borrow
We could use an area chart to show a rare peak event, pair it with a short plain language explanation, and add our own branding and source line.
Careful
Do not over read the spread: the post got fewer likes than the account's typical 333, and the quote rate was in the bottom quarter, so the unusual form and self explanation may not travel as far as they seem.
Written by our analysis model from the measured numbers above, not by a16z.
Make it yours
Your numbers, in this line chart.
Starts from the real numbers of "The Grid Is Built For A Peak It Neared For only About 200 Hours" by a16z. Replace every number with yours before you post. Make one like this, step by step
Free pictures carry a small "Made with ViralChart" line. That line is how other people find us.
API · Max
Use this chart via API
On the Max plan you can pull this chart's numbers with the provenance of each one, as JSON or CSV, with its redraw spec, or call it from an agent over MCP. Chart id 1e50a75e4019.
Approximate values. Our two readings of this chart agreed only in part (confidence 0.32 of 1), so check the original before you quote a number. The API marks it lowConfidence, and ?min_confidence=0.5 leaves it out.
| Path | Returns | Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GET | /api/v1/charts/1e50a75e4019 | Title, publisher, date, form, point count; with a Max key, the data link | Open |
| GET | /api/v1/charts/1e50a75e4019/data | Every point with its provenance and confidence, plus the redraw spec. Add ?format=csv for CSV | Max |
| GET | /api/v1/charts/1e50a75e4019/render?view=1 | The draw-only view this page uses | Open |
| POST | /mcp | Tool get_chart_data with this id, for Claude, Cursor and other agents | Max |
curl -s https://viral-chart.com/api/v1/charts/1e50a75e4019/data \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $VIRALCHART_KEY"claude mcp add --transport http viralchart https://viral-chart.com/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer $VIRALCHART_KEY"60 requests a minute per key; over that you get 429 with Retry-After. Up to 5 keys per account, made on your account page and shown once. Without Max, the data route answers 402 with a link to the plans. The numbers describe a chart its publisher owns, and every file carries a license note.
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Other giants using a area chart
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Questions people ask
How far did a16z's "ERCOT grid peak demand" chart travel?
31,576 views, 217 likes, 29 reposts and 127 saves on X, read Oct 14, 2026. A normal post from @a16z gets about 72.9K views.
What kind of chart is it?
A area chart. Grid built for peak reached only 200 hours.
Can I use a16z's chart?
Use the format, not the picture. The chart, logo and design belong to a16z. ViralChart redraws the chart type with your numbers and words, and credits the original publisher.