U.S. News
Frigid Weather Challenges Grid Stability Nationwide
Clear Facts
- U.S. electric grid operators increased efforts to prevent rotating blackouts as freezing weather put heavy pressure on energy infrastructure.
- PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid serving 67 million in the East and Mid-Atlantic, saw spot electricity prices surge past $3,000 per megawatt hour Saturday morning.
- Several regions, including New England, the Midwest, and Texas, faced emergency actions to maintain power as demand spiked and fuel supplies tightened.
With half the country facing extreme cold, electricity providers scrambled to keep up with demand and avoid outages. Older, seldom-used power plants were activated as prices skyrocketed and supply concerns mounted.
“A 40-year-old gas turbine switches on because it sees these super-high prices,” said Georg Rute, CEO of Gridraven.
Coal and gas plants were pushed to boost output, while natural gas production faced disruptions in key regions. Major grid operators like PJM and MISO imported and shifted power to meet demand, even as transmission lines became congested and supply chains strained.
MISO, managing a vast area across the Midwest and South, called for full power plant output and limited electricity exports to ensure enough supply for American households. In some areas, electricity prices rose sharply, especially in hard-hit northern markets.
To make up for gas shortfalls, New England relied on oil-fired generators, which quickly ramped up to cover over a third of the region’s needs—a rare move signaling intense strain on cleaner energy alternatives.
ERCOT, Texas’s main grid operator, faced its biggest challenge since the 2021 crisis that resulted in tragic outages and over 200 deaths. New rules have reportedly improved readiness, and experts say the grid is better prepared this time thanks to abundant fossil fuel generation and increased battery storage.
“I think there’s very little chance of a (2021) rerun,” said Rute. “But no blackout happens the same way twice.”
Severe weather remains a tough test for the nation’s power supply and highlights the urgent need for strong infrastructure and reliable traditional energy sources to keep Americans safe during winter storms.
Stay informed with the latest developments as Americans rely on resilient energy crews and proven fuel sources.
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