In late January, Winter Storm Fern revealed how dramatically power generation varies by region and fuel type, and how avoidable supply constraints can quickly drive up consumers’ energy costs. Fern’s impact was especially severe in the regions covered by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), and the PJM Interconnection, which together serve 130 million Americans. Storm-related data show that:

• Wind and solar resources performed well, while fossil-based generation faltered.
• In Fern as in other recent cold snaps, fossil generation accounted for the majority of generator outages. The coal units that the Department of Energy had ordered to continue operating past their closure dates provided minimal support.
• Natural gas prices spiked during Fern and other recent severe cold-weather events, costing consumers billions of dollars.

This report not only offers valuable data about grid performance during Winter Storm Fern, but recommendations for improving overall reliability and affordability through diversifying the generation mix and investment in interregional transmission.