Source: Beacon Hotel (NYC in snow) NERC’s 2025 Winter Reliability Assessment delivers a clear warning: peak winter electricity demand could spike ~25%, driven by electrification, data centers, and more extreme cold snaps. While the grid is largely prepared for average winter conditions, it is increasingly exposed to high-impact, low-probability weather events. Looking ahead, volatility may rise further. Climate models suggest La Niña fades in 2026, shifting to ENSO-neutral, t