17 August 2024

Power Grids Under Pressure: US Areas at Risk of Blackouts During the Summer

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid. 
NERC develops and enforces Reliability Standards; annually assesses seasonal and long‐term reliability; monitors the bulk power system through system awareness; and educates, trains, and certifies industry personnel. 
NERC’s area of responsibility spans the continental United States, Canada, and the northern portion of Baja California, Mexico. 
NERC is the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) for North America, subject to oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and governmental authorities in Canada. NERC's jurisdiction includes users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system, which serves nearly 400 million people.

NERC says much of the Midwest, New England and the region from California to Louisiana are at risk during higher-than-normal peak demand. British Columbia and Saskatchewan in Canada have a higher risk as well.
These are the states NERC warns are under an elevated risk: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Power Grids Under Pressure: 
US Areas at Risk of Blackouts During the Summer

Certain parts of the US might face an energy crunch this summer. These are the regions in the US that have the highest chance of being affected by blackouts.
Weather-related Power Outages Rising | Climate Central
Each year, NERC is responsible for independently assessing and reporting on the overall reliability, adequacy, and associated risks that could impact the upcoming summer and winter seasons as well as the long-term, 10-year period. As emerging risks and potential impacts to reliability are identified, special assessments are conducted that provide similar technical framework and insights about the range and specific aspects of these to guide steps that may be warranted. Unbiased judgment of industry’s plans for maintaining electric reliability in the future are founded on solid engineering through collaborative and consensus-based assessments.
 
By identifying and quantifying emerging reliability issues, NERC is able to provide risk-informed recommendations and support a learning environment for industry to pursue improved reliability performance. These recommendations, along with the associated technical analysis, provide the basis for actionable enhancements to resource and transmission planning methods, planning and operating guidelines, and NERC Reliability Standards.
 
The Reliability Assessment group develops the following key ERO reports, which fulfill the statutory requirements of Section 215 in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
  • Long-Term Reliability Assessments annually assess the adequacy of the Bulk Electric System in the United States and Canada over a 10-year period. The reports project electricity supply and demand, evaluate transmission system adequacy, and discuss key issues and trends that could affect reliability.
  • Summer and Winter Assessments assess the adequacy of electricity supplies in the United States and Canada for the upcoming summer and winter peak demand periods.
  • Special Assessments are conducted on a regional, interregional, or interconnection-wide basis, as needed.
  • Methods and Assumptions documents (provided below) include the methods and assumptions used in the development of the various assessments. This information is modified only as frequently as the assessment areas change or enhance processes for assessing reliability.

Additionally, the Reliability Assessments program coordinates forecast reliability data between planning areas, the seven Regional Entities, and governmental organizations through the Electricity Supply & Demand Database.


Learn more about NERC and our critical mission to assure
the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.



For more information, please send any questions or comments to assessments@nerc.net.
 
 
NERC_SRA_2024.pdf2024 Summer Assessment5/15/2024
NERC_SRA_Infographic_2024.pdf2024 Summer Assessment Infographic5/15/2024
NERC_LTRA_Infographic_2023.pdf2023 Long-Term Reliability Assessment - Infographic12/13/2023
NERC_LTRA_2023.pdf2023 Long-Term Reliability Assessment12/13/2023
NERC_WRA_2023.pdf2023/2024 Winter Assessment11/8/2023
NERC_WRA infographic_2023.pdf2023/2024 Winter Assessment Infographic11/8/2023

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