Data centers drive most new power demand, NERC says

POWER Magazine reports on NERC's 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, released in January 2026.

What happened

The assessment says new data centers for AI and the digital economy account for most of the projected rise in North American electricity demand over the next 10 years. NERC also warned that winter demand could rise by 245 GW through 2035. In its earlier winter assessment, NERC said actual demand in extreme cold can exceed forecasts by up to 25%.

What it means for your home

Demand growth is a multi-year trend, not a single event. According to Insurance Journal, which cites Bloomberg, data center growth could raise winter shortfall risk across 10 of the 16 electricity grids. Because NERC's warnings focus on winter, cold-weather planning matters most.

What to do this week

• Set a goal of three days of drinking water and food for each person.
• Charge a power bank and keep it with your phone charger.
• Check that flashlights and batteries work.
• Choose a warm room and gather blankets for a winter outage.
• Write your family plan on one page and keep a copy in your bag.

For the bigger picture, read why the power grid is under strain.