Extreme heat drives up demand for electricity as homes and businesses rely on air conditioning to stay safe and comfortable. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issues an annual Summer Reliability Assessment, providing an independent view of how prepared the U.S. grid is to meet summer electricity demand.
This NERC assessment is a critical planning tool for electric utilities as they prepare for the summer season. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of the North American Bulk Power System and highlights areas of concern regarding reliability. The 2025 assessment found that while most areas are prepared for typical summer conditions, some regions may experience elevated risk during periods of extreme heat or when generation resources are limited due to planned or unplanned power outages.
The electric grid is a vast network comprised of power plants, transmission lines and distribution systems that work together to deliver electricity to homes and businesses. Grid reliability means ensuring enough electricity is always available to meet demand — even on the hottest days of the year.
According to NERC’s assessment, the grid is experiencing rapid load growth. Across North America, the total forecasted peak summer demand has increased by more than 10 gigawatts (GW) since 2024 — more than double the increase seen in 2023. This growth is being driven by continued economic activity, expansion of data centers and industrial facilities, and the increase of electrification across many sectors.
At the same time, more than 7.4 GW of generation capacity has been retired or gone inactive since last summer. Retirements include natural gas, coal, nuclear and other types of generation, which reduces the availability of dispatchable resources that can operate at any time to help balance the grid.
New resources are becoming available to help meet some of this growing demand. Over 30 GW of new solar capacity and 13 GW of new battery storage are expected to contribute to demand requirements this summer. These resources are especially helpful during peak daylight hours but can create operational challenges in the evening, when solar generation tapers off and the demand for electricity remains high.
While most regions are prepared to meet demand under normal summer conditions, the NERC assessment highlights that some areas — including parts of the Midwest — face elevated risk of supply shortfalls during periods of above-normal demand or low resource availability. These risks may occur during extended heatwaves or when generation outages coincide with high loads.
Grid operators and electric cooperatives rely on the collective actions of individual consumers to help maintain reliability when the system is under stress. This is where co-op consumer-members can help. Stay informed and watch for communications from your electric co-op about peak demand periods or energy conservation requests. Quick actions by co-op members can make a meaningful difference.
Adjusting your thermostat by a few degrees, postponing use of large appliances until evening hours and turning off lights are simple, effective ways you can help ease strain on the grid.
As the electric grid evolves — with changing generation resources, new technologies and growing demand — maintaining reliable service requires careful planning and participation from everyone. Your electric co-op is working closely with power supply providers in preparing for peak demand, and your actions to conserve during these times are equally important.
