Winter Storm Fern caused widespread disruption for millions of Americans, a weather event that will long be remembered for its breadth and ferocity. Seventeen states saw at least a foot of snow and, tragically, dozens of people died from this natural disaster.
Also noteworthy is that 1 million customers nationwide lost power due to the storm. Nearly all those customers have had their power restored.
As a former chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission, the agency that oversees the state’s regulated utilities, I believe it’s worth calling attention to the excellent work being done by electrical workers across the states affected by the storm.
Through a collaborative, efficient and cost-effective process known as mutual assistance, electric utilities pre-positioned more than 65,000 workers — from at least 44 states, the District of Columbia and Canada — to help restore power to customers affected by the storm. These workers have the experience and knowledge to quickly assess a situation and develop a comprehensive strategy to restore power.
Specifically, these workers ensure that critical customers such as hospitals, fire departments and nursing homes can get power restored first to ensure the safety and well-being of the communities they serve.
It is also worth noting that these workers are performing tasks that put their safety at risk. These brave men and women work tirelessly to restore people’s power, surrounded by extreme conditions. This work is especially dangerous during and after events when ice and snow make conditions hazardous.
While Winter Storm Fern may leave those in the hardest hit communities without power for weeks, a vast majority of people who lost power in the storm had their electricity services restored in a matter of hours.
One primary reason our electrical workers were able to restore power quickly for customers is that utilities have made significant investments in strengthening the nation’s electric grid.
The Edison Electric Institute, the national trade association representing America’s investor-owned electric utilities, reports that its member companies invested nearly $208 billion in 2025 and are projected to invest $1.1 trillion over the next five years to make the energy grid increasingly reliable, resilient and secure. After a storm like Fern, these investments limit damage and help restore power more quickly.
EEI also notes that 91 GW of new capacity is under construction and that 488 GW is planned or proposed over the next five years. That 488 GW is more than a third of the capacity of the current electric grid. These investments are essential to ensuring we have sufficient electricity critical to restoring power after future storms.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that the federal government prepared seriously for Winter Storm Fern. The Department of Energy’s deputy secretary, James P. Danly, stated that his department’s coordination meant that energy stakeholders could “deploy every available resource — including more than 35 gigawatts of backup generation — to keep the lights on, protect American families, keep homes heated, and hospitals running and accelerate restoration.”
Let’s hope this is the last major storm of the winter, and remember to honor the service of our electrical workers. These men and women risk their safety to ensure ours, and for that, we should all be grateful.