The US power grid is struggling as a major winter storm barrels across the country

As winter storms barrel across the US, power grid users are taking dramatic measures to keep the lights on and avoid blackouts.

The storm, which stretched more than 2,300 miles, caused price volatility in electricity markets and forced some regions to temporarily rely on oil production to meet demand, Reuters reported.

The PJM Interconnection — the region’s largest regional grid, serving 67 million people across the East and Mid-Atlantic — saw electricity prices briefly rise above $3,000 per megawatt hour early Saturday morning, from less than $200 earlier in the day, Reuters reported.

In New England, production of fuel oil has been consolidated to help the region conserve natural gas, its main source of oil, according to Reuters.

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At the heart of this crisis is the country’s heavy reliance on natural gas supplies, according to Didi Caldwell, founder and CEO of location selection firm Global Location Strategies.

Natural gas now fuels about 40% of US electricity generation, up from about 12% in 1990, making an uninterrupted supply critical during extreme weather, Caldwell said.

“What we lack is the ability to store and deliver gas in real time,” Caldwell told FOX Business, noting that the US has plenty of wells.

Unlike coal plants, which have stored months of fuel on site, most natural gas plants rely on timely deliveries. Any disruption to pipelines or infrastructure could threaten power generation immediately, according to Caldwell.

“If something happens that will disrupt the supply of gas at gas stations, they don’t have any support,” he said.

Winter storms increase the risk. Gas demand is rising as households turn up the heat, while electricity needs are rising at the same time—much of it fueled by natural gas.

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A detailed view of the flight schedule at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on January 24, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Every district is represented, but for different reasons,” said Caldwell. “In the Southeast, the lack of storage and limited transportation capacity means that during cold weather, natural gas is competitive.”

One of the most vulnerable areas is the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. Zone 5, which goes through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, according to Caldwell.

“Limited storage and pipeline capacity means that during major winter events, atypical for this region like the one predicted this weekend, fuel prices and transportation capacity – basically pipeline volume – go up,” he said.

The risks of this system were made public during Texas’ deadly Winter Storm Uri in 2021, when frozen gas infrastructure caused widespread power outages. While improvements are being pursued, the current storm is among the first tests of those improvements, Caldwell said.

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Bread shelves are empty at a grocery store, Friday, in Washington, DC, as this weekend’s storm is expected. (Al Drago/Getty Images/Getty Images)

A similar failure occurred in 2022, when gas systems in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic were pushed to their limits during an Arctic cold event. The grid is held only by emergency measures and by small margins, according to Caldwell.

Caldwell said long-term solutions will require grid development, targeted improvements in gas delivery, and better coordination between gas and electric systems.

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“Increasing natural gas production will not fix and may increase the risk,” he said.

PJM Interconnection did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.