The North American Electric Reliability Corporation “is encouraged that industry has taken actions to prepare for what appears to be a very challenging winter storm system,” NERC said on Jan. 22 in reference to Winter Storm Fern.
Extreme cold weather is predicted for the Northeast, South, and Midwest this weekend. Beginning Friday, this extreme weather pattern of arctic cold is expected to evolve and bring extremely low temperatures, heavy snow, and ice, with the potential to create significant challenges through Monday.
NERC, through its Bulk Power System Awareness group, and the Regional Entities works closely with the continent’s Reliability Coordinators, Balancing Authorities, and transmission operators to monitor current and prospective operating conditions on the grid; “at this time, NERC is encouraged that industry has taken actions to prepare for what appears to be a very challenging winter storm system.”
NERC’s 2025 Winter Reliability Assessment found that much of North America is at an elevated risk of having insufficient energy supplies to meet demand in extreme operating conditions. The assessment also recommended that Reliability Coordinators, Balancing Authorities, and Transmission Operators in the elevated risk areas, review seasonal operating plans and the protocols for communicating and resolving potential supply shortfalls in anticipation of potentially extreme demand levels, like the ones forecast for this weekend.
This included advancing winter weatherization of power plants and fuel acquisition to enable operations during cold temperatures.
On December 2, 2025, NERC CEO Jim Robb sent a winter preparedness video to industry asking for extra diligence as it prepared for the winter season.
NERC also urges natural gas suppliers to review their own winter preparations and ensure that the two industries stay in close coordination as this weekend’s storm unfolds.
NERC works with industry stakeholders to prepare for and mitigate the potential impacts of significant weather events with a comprehensive approach that includes mandatory Reliability Standards, guidelines on extreme weather preparations, alerts, industry webinars, and the publication of seasonal assessments shared with industry and federal, state, and provincial government partners.
