Cold Weather Preparedness for Utilities

As recent history has shown, cold weather isn’t just inconvenient. It’s a critical reliability threat to the Bulk Power System (BPS). From Texas to the Northeast, severe winter events have triggered major blackouts, costly outages, and increased scrutiny from regulators. For utility operators, the message is clear: cold weather preparedness is no longer optional; it’s essential.

Utilities and generation facilities must take a proactive, system-wide approach to winter readiness. This includes implementing cold-weather reliability standards, conducting freeze protection audits, and ensuring critical components, like fuel systems, control equipment, and backup generators, are tested and reinforced before temperatures drop. Coordination with regional entities, scenario planning, and workforce training are also key to minimizing risk. By investing in robust cold weather strategies now, operators can avoid cascading failures later and maintain the reliability the grid demands when conditions are at their worst.

Why Cold Weather Preparation Matters

Multiple extreme cold weather events in recent years have exposed vulnerabilities in generation facilities and system operations:

• Southwest Cold Weather Event (2011)
• Polar Vortex (2014)
• South Central U.S. Cold Snap (2018)
• Texas Winter Storm (2021)

These events collectively resulted in hundreds of generator outages, significant load loss, and widespread public impact. As a result, NERC and FERC launched multiple regulatory efforts to improve industry preparedness.

To strengthen reliability, FERC expedited the approval of new cold-weather reliability standards put into effect in April 2023. In tandem, NERC released several key resources, including:

• Cold Weather Preparations for Extreme Weather Events Alert
• The Cold Weather Practice Guide
• Joint FERC/NERC Regional Entity Inquiry Reports
• Cold weather-focused webinars, lessons learned, and fact sheets

These initiatives aim to help Reliability Coordinators, Transmission Operators, Balancing Authorities, Generator Owners and Operators, and Planning Coordinators build and maintain robust cold-weather plans.

What Can You Do?

Utilities and generation entities must take proactive steps to winterize their operations, protect infrastructure, and safeguard the workforce. This checklist of cold-weather preparation priorities, built from industry best practices and regulatory guidance, can help you get started:

• Create a Cold Weather Plan: Define site-specific actions for extreme cold, identify responsible personnel, and establish verification steps.
• Implement Freeze Protection: Install or upgrade insulation, heat tracing, and de-icing systems for exposed equipment and critical components.
• Secure Fuel Supply: Ensure reliable access to fuel during cold snaps and establish backup fuel contracts or reserves.
• Evaluate Equipment: Inspect mechanical systems, batteries, and inverter-based resources for winter vulnerabilities.
• Enhance Automation and Monitoring: Use sensors and automation for real-time temperature alerts and faster response.
• Improve Forecasting: Refine load and demand forecasts to account for heating loads and regional cold weather thresholds.
• Prepare for Compliance Checks: Align plans with NERC cold weather standards and prepare for spot checks or audits.
• Document and Transfer Knowledge: Capture cold weather protocols and lessons learned before experienced staff retire.
• Use Smart Tools: Leverage digital checklists and connected systems to ensure visibility, traceability, and timely action.

Additionally, cold weather doesn’t just impact equipment; it affects your workers.

Field crews and operators experience higher stress, longer hours, and greater exposure during extreme weather events. Safety protocols should include:

• Proper layering, insulated boots, and extra dry clothing
• Frequent warm-up breaks and high-calorie meals
• Wind protection and scheduling heavy work during warmer hours
• Ongoing mental and physical fatigue monitoring

Your people are your frontline defense – make sure they’re protected.

How HSI Can Help

At HSI, we help utilities prepare for extreme weather with:

Extreme Weather Assessments

• Review of existing cold weather plans and training
• Gap analysis and benchmarking against best practices
• Recommendations to align with NERC standard revisions

Custom Training Development

• Tailored to your equipment, region, and operational needs
• Designed to capture and transfer institutional knowledge
• Built for accessibility across mobile, desktop, and field conditions

Whether you’re a generation owner or part of a broader operational team, proactive planning and training are your strongest defenses against cold-weather events.

Extreme cold is no longer a rare event – it’s a recurring challenge. With regulations evolving and system demands growing, utilities must treat cold weather readiness as a strategic priority.

Don’t wait for the next storm to test your preparedness. Contact us today to help you get started on your path to cold-weather readiness.