美国电力监管机构：数千万美国人今年夏季将面临电力短缺风险

Core Insights - The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warns that tens of millions of Americans face a significant risk of power shortages this summer due to aging power plants, potential forced outages, and high electricity demand [1][2] - Approximately 89 million Americans are served by three major grid systems in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, which have been identified as "high-risk areas" [1] - The report indicates that about 104 million Americans, or one-third of the U.S. population, live in regions that could experience grid emergencies due to extreme weather conditions [2] Grid System Risks - The New England grid, covering six states, frequently appears on risk lists due to tight energy supplies [2] - The Texas grid, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), faces additional risks from transmission bottlenecks in the southern system, although the probability of power shortages after sunset has decreased from over 15% in 2024 to 3% in August [2] - Despite not being on NERC's watch list, the New York grid and the Eastern U.S. grid have warned of potential reserve power shortages during extreme summer heat [2] Historical Context and Future Outlook - U.S. officials have previously warned of potential power issues, with the Interior Secretary stating that large-scale blackouts could occur as early as this summer [3] - The U.S. has experienced multiple large-scale outages in recent years due to extreme weather and aging infrastructure, with over 300,000 residents affected by outages in southern states during severe summer storms in June 2023 [3] - NERC has highlighted that the North American grid faces "serious reliability challenges" due to increasing electricity demand driven by data centers and the retirement of fossil fuel plants, with over half of North America at risk of energy shortages in the next decade [3]