US EditionExtreme Weather Heightens Risk To Grid Reliability As Winter Is Coming
North American electricity demand will rise 20 GW this winter, driven mainly by data center expansion, while new power resources only increased 9.4 GW, NERC says.
- On Tuesday, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation released its 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment, finding aggregate peak demand across North America will be 20 GW higher than last winter.
- Mark Olson, manager of reliability assessment at NERC, said the biggest driver is data center growth in many parts of North America, with some areas forecasting winter demand growth near 10%.
- NERC noted that total resources rose by only 9.4 GW since last winter, while grid-scale batteries added 11 GW and demand-response 8 GW, with wind contributions 14 GW lower after accounting changes.
- If extreme winter storms occur, operators may import power, ask large customers to curtail use, or institute rolling blackouts, while New England could face gas shortages in extended cold.
- Experts including EPSA say policy and market reforms are needed to bring resources online faster, amid political pushback over data center costs influencing elections, as Todd Snitchler explained.
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AI Data Centers Fuel Record Winter Demand, Raising Blackout Risk Across North America
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issued a stark warning on Tuesday: surging winter electricity demand, driven significantly by the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers, has placed “much of North America” at risk of failing to meet power needs during “extreme operating conditions.” In its 2025-2026 reliability report, NERC highlighted that rising […] AI Data Centers Fuel Record Winter Demand, Raisin…
The spike in data centers is one of the main contributors to electricity demand and blackout risks this winter
An energy report shows that data centers are leading a spike in energy demand and increasing blackout risks this winter.Jonathan Ernst/REUTERSAn industry report indicates that data centers are contributing to blackout risks this winter.NERC reports that Texas, the Southeast, and the Mid-Atlantic face the sharpest rise in power demand.Rising energy bills and data center expansion are fueling pushback and swinging votes.Sprawling data centers may …
Near a data center? Prepare for blackouts this winter
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