Winter Storm Fern Fact Sheet

Natural gas reliability is the product of sustained infrastructure investment, operational preparation, and multiple supply and balancing tools working together when weather stress hits. Winter Storm Fern put that system to the test. Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population, more than 230 million Americans, fell under winter storm alerts. Fern produced the highest seven-day rolling average of total U.S. lower-48 natural gas demand on record at 165.6 Bcf per day, with demand remaining above 160 Bcf per day for 10 consecutive days. That daily demand is roughly 4 times the energy the entire U.S. electric grid generates in a day. Residential and commercial consumption, driven by heating for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses, accounted for the largest share at 40% of total demand. The gas utility industry met its obligations to customers throughout, delivering essential energy when homes and businesses needed it.