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Generators experienced far fewer unplanned outages during bitter cold winter weather early this year and in 2025 compared to winter storms in 2021 and 2022, reflecting changes power plant owners and grid operators have made in how they prepare for cold weather, according to a report released Thursday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corp.
Peak power plant outages totaled about 49,700 MW across the Eastern Interconnection in January, down from 90,500 MW during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022, according to the report.
Power plant outages in January in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas peaked at about 19,420 MW in January compared to about 35,300 MW during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
Texas was hit with massive blackouts during Uri, when power plant equipment couldn’t operate and natural gas deliveries to generators were limited due to the freezing weather. The Texas Department of State Health Services estimated that 246 people died during Winter Storm Uri, mainly from extreme cold and hypothermia.
