Important lessons:
- During high-demand times like summer temperature waves, parts of the US are susceptible to dark risks, including the Midwest, New England, and Texas-Louisiana.
- Due to new data centers, electricity, and technological activity, electricity demand is a major issue in the US.
- Regional grid risks vary depending on the region’s climate: plant retirements are occurring in the Midwest, Southwest conditions are severe, concerns are there for solar reliability in Texas, and energy reserves in New England are low.
- Experts advise making a plan, stocking off, signing up for power alerts, and looking into standby power options before a outage.
Your summertime programs may require a backup power source. Power outages, disruptions, or brownouts may occur anywhere. According to the most recent annual grid reliability analysis from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, you are more at danger if you live in one of the places where there are higher risks of power shortages this summer.
Most people don’t think about energy interruptions until they occur. And when they do, they can be very uncomfortable or even dangerous, particularly if you’re trying to cool your house in the summertime. The possibility of being knocked online can also be a real problem for those who work from home.  ,
The most recent NERC review identifies many North American regions that are in danger of grid reliability issues, primarily as a result of insufficient energy source during above-average demand times, such as heat waves, which increase AC use.
The summer network outlook for this year has changed since last year, with larger swathes of the Midwest and core US falling under an increased risk of electricity shortage and blackouts during intense heat occasions. California, Arizona, and New Mexico are no longer at higher risk than they were next month.
Conform NERC’s 2025 report, a large portion of the Midwest, key US, New England, and the place from Texas to Louisiana are in danger from higher-than-normal top need. Saskatchewan in Canada also has a higher risk.  ,
The likelihood of disruptions in your area
The higher-risk parts of this year differ significantly from the same period last year’s report. Some areas have been removed from the high-risk image, while others have been added because they are struggling with increased need and not enough supply.
Places like Texas, California, and across the US West have seen an influx of battery energy storage devices in recent years, which is reducing power shortages caused by provide variability and require peaks, according to Mark Olson, NERC’s director of Reliability Assessments, in a statement.
However, the main issue facing the US this summertime is skyrocketing energy demand. NERC predicts that” Peak demand will increase across all 23 examination areas by 10 GW, more than double the raise from 2023 to 2024,” according to the NERC. This is attributable to business action, fresh data centers, and electricity.
According to NERC, the network is in danger for various reasons and locations. Older strength flowers ‘ retirements in the Midwest could lead to shortfalls during times of peak demand. High temperatures in some Southwest regions increase need while also causing some power technology to go online. Thermal resources in Texas could be vulnerable when demand is high but production is low. Additionally, there are fewer energy reserves in New England for the upcoming summers, and demand is anticipated to rise as the temperature rises.  ,
Even though they dropped from their top in 2020, power interruptions have become more frequent in recent years. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average American household’s power supply was interrupted for five and a half days in 2022, the most recent season with available information. More than half of that was caused by “major events,” which are usually extreme weather.  ,
The risk of demand outstripping the energy source is the subject of NERC’s statement. The desire for AC on the network is high, and it is only getting worse. According to NASA, 2024 was the hottest time ever recorded, which means 15 consecutive month of record-breaking high heat. Although 2025 is not anticipated to be as comfortable as 2024, it is likely to come close to breaking records for heating in all time.
The burning of fossil fuels as energy fuel is commonly accepted as the cause of our planet’s climate. However, experts claim that we can organize in a variety of ways.
How to get ready for electricity or blackouts ,
Making a plan for a blackout is a wise decision if you live in a high-risk area or region that is prone to extreme conditions or natural disasters like fire or hurricanes. How, see how.
- Create a shutdown strategy: Before it occurs, consider how you’re going to cope with a power failure. Keep non-perishable items like water and food on side, fresh batteries, and compact power banks for your mobile phone and other devices.  ,
- Maintain a first aid kit at hand. In the event of a power outage during a heat wave or cold snap, please include the emergency number of your utility as well as the location of nearby cooling or warming facilities.
- Sign up for automated messages from your utility company to receive alerts about outages and projected recovery dates. Sheri Givens, president and CEO of the Smart Electric Power Alliance, says,” It gives you that peace of mind.”
- Consider purchasing back power: A house battery, compact power station, or generator can provide you with some juice during a power outage, allowing you to lock in appliances like a refrigerator, gadgets, or keep important medical equipment in operation.  ,
- Consider solar power as a buffer against power outages by producing your own power from a rooftop solar panel or portable solar panel. Solar is a significant investment, but it might be worthwhile if you live in a place where there are frequent blackouts, which would lessen the strain on the grid that eventually led to blackouts.
- Check out the capabilities of bidirectional charging on your upcoming car lease or purchase. In the event of a power outage, many electric vehicles have the ability to provide energy to a home.
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