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Design prototype. Figures, officials, and events are illustrative placeholders, not live data.

DDD
Critical Infrastructure

Energy Grid

Demand is high in Texas and the Southwest; reserves are adequate but thinner than usual during evening peaks.
Elevated
Updated

Why this is rated elevated

Two regional operators issued conservation appeals this week. No rotating outages have occurred, and national reserve margins remain above reliability thresholds.

Elevated: Some indicators are outside normal ranges or a known risk is developing. Core functions are unaffected. Methodology

About this area

The US electric grid is made up of three interconnections run by regional operators. This page tracks demand, reserve margins, fuel prices, and outage alerts.

Indicators

Latest readings. Changes are shown without judgment of whether up or down is better.

IndicatorLatest

Operating reserve margin (national, evening peak)

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, North American Electric Reliability Corporation		14.2%

Peak daily demand (Lower 48)

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration		721GW

Customers without power

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration		38,200customers

Henry Hub natural gas

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration		3.14$/MMBtu

Charts

Operating reserve margin (national, evening peak)14.2%
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Peak daily demand (Lower 48)721GW
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Customers without power38,200customers
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Henry Hub natural gas3.14$/MMBtu
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Timeline of developments

  1. Texas grid operator issues voluntary conservation appeal

    The request covered evening peak hours during a late-season heat wave. Demand was met without emergency actions.

    Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

  2. Regional reliability assessment flags winter risk

    The assessment noted elevated risk in parts of the Northeast and Midwest during extreme cold, citing gas supply constraints.

    Source: North American Electric Reliability Corporation

Sources and citations

  1. 1.
    Hourly Electric Grid Monitor

    U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed Sep 27, 2026.

  2. 2.
    Reliability assessments

    North American Electric Reliability Corporation. Accessed Sep 27, 2026.

  3. 3.
    Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price (daily)

    U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed Sep 27, 2026.

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