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“House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Winter Storm Fern Lessons: Supplying Reliable Power to Meet Peak Demand”

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
March 17, 2026 (recording linked here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses and Written Testimony (Linked):

• Jim Robb, President and Chief Executive Officer, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

• José Costa, President and Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Gas Association

• Brett Mattison, President and Chief Operating Officer, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)

• Michael Goggin, Executive Vice President, Grid Strategies

HEARING HIGHLIGHTS

QUICK SUMMARY

• Grid Performance: The hearing focused on the performance of the electric grid during Winter Storm Fern, with broad agreement that the system remained operational but was strained and operated close to reliability limits. Witnesses emphasized that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent stress tests, requiring significant coordination, emergency measures, and prior winterization efforts to avoid widespread outages. Several members highlighted that the grid’s ability to meet demand during the storm should not obscure underlying vulnerabilities.

• Energy Mix Divide: A central divide emerged over which energy resources ensured reliability, with Republican members and some witnesses emphasizing the critical role of dispatchable resources such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear power. In contrast, Democratic members and other witnesses pointed to strong performance from wind and solar and highlighted repeated outages in fossil fuel generation during extreme weather. This disagreement reflected broader policy tensions over the future energy mix and how reliability should be measured.

• Demand Growth: There was strong bipartisan consensus that electricity demand is rising rapidly, driven by data centers, electrification, and economic growth, and that the United States is not currently prepared to meet that demand. Witnesses warned that supply additions are not keeping pace with projected load growth and that the grid is increasingly at risk of energy shortfalls in many regions. Members on both sides stressed urgency in addressing these trends to maintain reliability and competitiveness.

• Transmission and Permitting: Transmission constraints and permitting delays were repeatedly identified as major bottlenecks preventing new generation from being deployed effectively. Members and witnesses agreed that even when sufficient generation exists, it often cannot reach demand centers due to limited grid capacity, increasing costs and reducing reliability. There was broad agreement that reforms to permitting, interconnection processes, and transmission planning are necessary to accelerate infrastructure development.

• Energy System Coordination: The hearing also highlighted growing interdependence between the electric and natural gas systems, as well as the risks associated with fuel supply disruptions and price volatility. Witnesses discussed the need for better coordination between the two systems and increased investment in infrastructure such as pipelines, storage, and transmission. Overall, the discussion underscored that ensuring grid reliability will require a combination of expanded infrastructure, diversified energy resources, and improved system planning.

IN THEIR WORDS

SUMMARY OF OPENING STATEMENTS

• Subcommittee Chair Latta stated that the hearing examined the performance of the electric grid during Winter Storm Fern, which brought extreme cold and widespread precipitation across much of the United States. He emphasized that despite difficult conditions and some outages, the grid remained largely resilient due to significant preparation, coordination, and real-time decision making. He argued that dispatchable and baseload resources such as natural gas, coal, fuel oil, and nuclear energy played a critical role in maintaining reliability, while intermittent resources declined during peak demand. He pointed to New England’s reliance on natural gas and nuclear power, noting that limited pipeline capacity forced the use of more expensive fuel oil. Latta framed the storm as a warning for future energy planning, stressing the need for more dispatchable generation amid rising electricity demand. He concluded that strengthening domestic energy production and independence was essential for reliability and national security.

• Subcommittee Acting Ranking Member Peters stated that rising electricity demand and costs were placing increasing strain on the U.S. energy system, with prices already up and projected to climb further. He argued that the United States was falling behind global competitors like China in building transmission infrastructure and modernizing the grid. Peters emphasized that the country needed a comprehensive approach that included expanding all types of energy resources, rather than focusing narrowly on specific generation types or maintaining inefficient legacy assets. He highlighted transmission constraints as a major barrier, noting that congestion and interconnection delays were preventing new energy from reaching consumers and increasing costs. He cited examples such as Texas, where a diversified energy mix including renewables and storage improved reliability after past failures. Peters concluded that the U.S. must invest in grid expansion, improve interregional transmission, and adopt a forward-looking strategy to maintain competitiveness and reliability.

• Full Committee Chair Guthrie stated that recent winter storms, including Fern, Elliott, and Uri, demonstrated the importance of having reliable energy systems that can meet demand during extreme conditions. He argued that dispatchable fossil fuel generation and nuclear power consistently supplied the majority of additional electricity needed during peak winter demand, while renewable sources were less dependable. Guthrie emphasized that preparation and coordination were critical, noting that past storms revealed failures in demand forecasting and fuel supply that led to outages and blackouts. He pointed to improvements in coordination and generator performance during Winter Storm Fern as evidence of progress. Guthrie stressed that future policy decisions must prioritize expanding reliable and affordable generation to meet growing electricity demand. He concluded that understanding the lessons of recent storms would be key to designing a resilient energy system.

• Full Committee Ranking Member Pallone argued that the hearing should also address rising oil and gas prices, which he attributed to geopolitical instability and poor policy decisions. He stated that increasing energy costs were placing a financial burden on American households, particularly through higher gasoline and electricity prices. Pallone noted that while Winter Storm Fern tested the grid, the bulk power system ultimately met demand, though localized outages occurred due to damage to distribution infrastructure. He emphasized that grid reliability depended on a diverse mix of resources, including renewables, which he said performed well during the storm. Pallone highlighted failures in fossil fuel infrastructure, including outages caused by freeze-offs, and pointed to transmission constraints as a major weakness. He concluded that expanding interregional transmission and investing in clean energy would improve reliability, reduce costs, and better prepare the grid for future extreme weather.

SUMMARY OF WITNESS STATEMENTS

• Mr. Jim Robb stated that while recent metrics showed strong grid performance, the risk of energy shortfalls was increasing, with nearly two thirds of the country facing elevated risk over the next five years. He described Winter Storm Fern as a severe, long duration event that pushed the grid close to its limits, requiring extensive operator actions and government intervention to maintain reliability. Robb identified three main drivers of risk, including rapid demand growth, a changing resource mix with more variable generation, and delays in bringing new supply online. He emphasized that electricity demand was rising at unprecedented levels, driven in part by data centers, electrification, and new technologies. He also noted that while renewables were growing, they often struggled during winter conditions, and the system was losing essential reliability services as traditional generation declined. Robb concluded that accelerating permitting, improving coordination between gas and electric systems, and speeding resource development were necessary to maintain reliability.

• Mr. Brett Mattison stated that Winter Storm Fern reinforced the importance of having reliable, dispatchable resources that could be called upon regardless of weather conditions. He described how SWEPCO managed extreme cold temperatures and restored service to over 200,000 affected customers through coordinated efforts and workforce dedication. Mattison explained that coal and natural gas generation provided the majority of power during the storm, while wind contributed but remained variable and unable to replace around the clock resources. He outlined several priorities for maintaining reliability, including the need for new natural gas plants, expanded nuclear energy, and preserving existing baseload resources such as coal. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening transmission infrastructure and ensuring affordability for customers as new demand grows. Mattison concluded that with the right investments and policies, the grid could remain reliable, resilient, and cost effective.

• Mr. Michael Goggin stated that data from Winter Storm Fern and similar events showed that wind and solar resources performed well, while fossil fuel generation experienced more frequent outages. He argued that natural gas and coal accounted for the majority of generation failures during extreme weather and contributed to significant price spikes that cost consumers billions. Goggin emphasized that a diverse energy mix improved resilience, as different resources had different risk profiles, and renewables helped offset underperformance from fossil fuels. He highlighted transmission constraints as a major limitation, noting that expanded interregional transmission could reduce costs and improve reliability by allowing power to flow between regions with different demand patterns. Goggin also pointed to examples where stronger transmission connections could have prevented outages and reduced costs during past storms. He concluded that investing in renewables and transmission infrastructure would provide more reliable and affordable power in the face of extreme weather and global market volatility.

• Mr. José Costa stated that Winter Storm Fern demonstrated both the reliability of the natural gas system and the significant constraints facing infrastructure in the Northeast. He explained that natural gas producers, pipelines, and utilities performed strongly during the storm, delivering record volumes and meeting high demand through preparation and coordination. However, he noted that pipeline capacity limits forced the region to rely on liquefied natural gas imports and alternative fuels such as oil when demand peaked. Costa emphasized that these constraints led to supply challenges, price spikes, and increased emissions, highlighting the limitations of the current system. He also stated that natural gas remained a critical fuel for electricity generation, particularly during extreme weather events when other resources underperformed. Costa concluded that expanding natural gas infrastructure and storage would improve reliability, reduce costs, and support a more stable energy system.

SUMMARY OF KEY Q&A

• Chair Latta asked whether the United States needed more or less energy to meet current and future demand. Mr. Robb responded that the country needed more energy to maintain reliability. Mr. Mattison responded that significantly more energy was required to meet growing demand and ensure reliability. Mr. Goggin responded that more energy was needed along with a more diverse mix of resources. Mr. Costa responded that substantially more energy was necessary to support system needs.

  Chair Latta asked how retiring dispatchable generation would affect grid reliability. Mr. Robb responded that retiring those resources would reduce supply and eliminate essential services like voltage, frequency control, and ramping capability.

  Chair Latta asked what would have happened during the storm without coal generation. Mr. Mattison responded that customers would have experienced outages without dispatchable resources like coal.

  Chair Latta asked what Congress should prioritize to improve energy reliability. Mr. Costa responded that permitting reform was critical to expand infrastructure and bring more supply to constrained regions.
  Chair Latta asked how to accelerate permitting and infrastructure development timelines. Mr. Robb responded that timelines must be compressed across permitting, interconnection queues, and supply chains to match rapid demand growth.
  Chair Latta asked how to modernize and expand transmission infrastructure. Mr. Mattison responded that stronger federal policies were needed to accelerate transmission siting and construction.

• Acting Ranking Member Peters argued that there was broad agreement on energy needs and asked how transmission expansion improves grid performance. Mr. Robb responded that interregional transmission allows power to move from surplus to deficit regions, improving reliability and market efficiency for all resources.
  Acting Ranking Member Peters asked how transmission congestion affected costs during the storm. Mr. Goggin responded that congestion prevented cheaper generation from reaching demand centers and increased costs by tens of millions of dollars.

• Chair Guthrie asked which energy sources operators rely on most during extreme winter storms. Mr. Mattison responded that dispatchable resources like coal and natural gas were relied upon because they can be controlled and delivered on demand.
  Chair Guthrie asked what was meant by warnings about emergency grid actions. Mr. Robb responded that reliance on emergency measures indicated the system was operating too close to its limits and was at risk of failure.
  Chair Guthrie asked what limited imports during widespread storms meant for reliability. Mr. Costa responded that regions must rely on their own dispatchable resources when neighboring areas also face shortages.
  Chair Guthrie asked what would happen without fossil fuel generation during such events. Mr. Costa responded that the grid would likely experience widespread outages without those dispatchable resources.

• Ranking Member Pallone asked how renewable resources performed relative to expectations during the storm. Mr. Goggin responded that wind and solar exceeded expectations and contributed significant generation during peak demand.
  Ranking Member Pallone asked why fossil fuel plants underperformed. Mr. Goggin responded that gas and coal units experienced outages due to freezing equipment, fuel constraints, and operational failures.
  Ranking Member Pallone asked whether keeping uneconomic coal plants online improved reliability. Mr. Goggin responded that such interventions increased costs and were unnecessary because markets were already replacing them with more reliable resources.

• Rep. Palmer asked how current grid reliability compared to past decades. Mr. Robb responded that past outages were mostly due to distribution failures, whereas current risks stem from generation shortfalls.
  Rep. Palmer asked why generation shortages were occurring more frequently. Mr. Robb responded that changes in the resource mix and reduced fuel security were contributing factors.
  Rep. Palmer asked whether repowering retired plants could improve reliability. Mr. Mattison responded that using existing sites with transmission connections would help improve system reliability.
  Rep. Palmer asked what happens when gas supply cannot meet demand. Mr. Costa responded that generators without firm contracts would lose supply first, potentially causing outages.

• Rep. Menendez delivered remarks focused on energy prices and geopolitical issues and did not ask questions of the witnesses.

• Rep. Harshbarger asked about the role of dispatchable resources during peak demand. Mr. Mattison responded that coal and other dispatchable units served as the backbone of reliability during extreme conditions.
  Rep. Harshbarger asked how artificial intelligence could improve grid operations. Mr. Mattison responded that AI could enhance forecasting of demand, weather impacts, and system needs.
  Rep. Harshbarger asked about the importance of natural gas as renewables increase. Mr. Robb responded that natural gas was essential for balancing intermittent generation.

• Rep. Matsui asked about the relationship between climate change and grid reliability. Mr. Robb responded that NERC’s role focused on reliability and not on climate policy analysis.
  Rep. Matsui asked how solar performed in regions unaffected by extreme cold. Mr. Goggin responded that solar output was strong in the West and could have supported other regions with better transmission.
  Rep. Matsui asked how California improved grid reliability. Mr. Goggin responded that a diverse mix of renewables, storage, and expanded transmission improved performance.
  Rep. Matsui asked about the role of state-level energy planning. Mr. Robb responded that states play a central role in determining resource mix and ensuring reliability.

• Rep. Bentz asked whether electricity demand growth was a nationwide issue. Mr. Robb responded that many regions faced similar challenges, though not uniformly.
  Rep. Bentz asked about transmission capacity constraints. Mr. Robb responded that transmission bottlenecks were common in many regions.
  Rep. Bentz asked how to address both generation and transmission shortages. Mr. Robb responded that the primary challenge was building infrastructure more quickly.
  Rep. Bentz asked what policy changes would help transmission development. Mr. Mattison responded that faster federal permitting would significantly accelerate progress.

• Rep. Veasey asked how renewables help mitigate fuel price volatility. Mr. Goggin responded that renewables provide price stability because they have no fuel costs.
  Rep. Veasey asked about risks of relying on a single energy source. Mr. Goggin responded that diversification reduces both economic and reliability risks.
  Rep. Veasey asked how to improve coordination between gas and electric systems. Mr. Robb responded that better planning, communication, and infrastructure investment were needed.

• Rep. Fedorchak asked what federal actions were needed to improve reliability. Mr. Mattison responded that rapid construction of transmission and generation infrastructure was essential.
  Rep. Fedorchak asked how retiring baseload resources affects the grid. Mr. Robb responded that it reduces reliability and removes critical operating capabilities.
  Rep. Fedorchak asked whether existing plants should remain online longer. Mr. Robb responded that maintaining viable existing resources was necessary to avoid worsening shortages.

• Rep. McClellan asked how to address delays in connecting new energy projects to the grid. Mr. Goggin responded that transmission expansion, cost allocation reform, and permitting improvements were key solutions.
  Rep. McClellan asked about the importance of upgrading aging infrastructure. Mr. Goggin responded that modernization would improve reliability, capacity, and overall system efficiency.

• Rep. Fry asked how natural gas storage supported reliability during the storm. Mr. Costa responded that storage and firm contracts ensured supply during peak demand periods.
  Rep. Fry asked how preparation and coordination improved outcomes compared to past storms. Mr. Robb responded that winterization standards and coordination reduced outages. Mr. Mattison responded that planning exercises and prior investments improved operational readiness.

• Rep. Mullin asked how reliance on fossil fuels affects energy costs during crises. Mr. Goggin responded that fuel price spikes significantly increased costs, while renewables reduced exposure to those risks.
  Rep. Mullin asked about the role of additional transmission capacity. Mr. Robb responded that more transmission would improve reliability but required updated analysis given rising demand.

• Rep. Lee asked what lessons policymakers should take from the storm for grid resilience. Mr. Robb responded that coordinated planning between gas and electric systems improved reliability.
  Rep. Lee asked how population growth affects grid reliability. Mr. Robb responded that rapid demand growth increases reliability risks in high-growth regions.
  Rep. Lee asked about renewable performance during the storm. Mr. Costa responded that dispatchable resources were more reliable during peak stress.
  Rep. Lee asked how managing demand could reduce costs. Mr. Mattison responded that smoothing demand and using a diverse energy mix improved affordability.

• Rep. Miller-Meeks asked whether emergency actions were becoming routine. Mr. Robb responded that such measures might continue until infrastructure improvements are made.
  Rep. Miller-Meeks asked how delayed projects affected system risk. Mr. Robb responded that faster project deployment would improve reliability, though impacts are difficult to quantify.
  Rep. Miller-Meeks asked how gas curtailments were managed. Mr. Costa responded that coordination prioritized critical demand and led to some generator shutdowns.

• Rep. Evans asked whether removing dispatchable energy improves reliability. Mr. Robb responded that it reduces reliability. Mr. Mattison responded that it reduces reliability. Mr. Goggin responded that the impact depends on what resources replace it. Mr. Costa responded that it reduces reliability.
  Rep. Evans asked about the impact of retiring baseload plants on costs and reliability. Mr. Robb responded that it increases cost pressure and reduces reliability due to loss of essential grid services.

• Rep. Lee asked how Florida’s grid planning improved resilience. Mr. Robb responded that integrated gas and electric system planning strengthened reliability.
  Rep. Lee asked about renewable performance during extreme conditions. Mr. Costa responded that dispatchable resources carried the system when renewables underperformed.
  Rep. Lee asked how managing demand affects costs. Mr. Mattison responded that balancing demand and using a diverse resource mix reduces consumer costs.

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