Your second citation does not show AC peaking at 6, it shows Solar and Wind use averages over time of day. I don’t know when AC use peaks but total use tends t

Your second citation does not show AC peaking at 6, it shows Solar and Wind use averages over time of day. I don’t know when AC use peaks but total use tends to peak before 6PM while residential use peaks in the morning and evening [1]. Solar does fall off around then and rather suddenly for any given longitude. But what you see with the duck curve (slouching midday prices with a 6PM peak) in California is reduced grid demand. Grid demand is not the same as energy use because of behind the meter generation (e.g., rooftop solar). The duck curve shape is caused by replacement energy use from solar not reduced energy use. [1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42915