As the U.S. grid faces accelerating load growth from data centers and electrification, NERC’s Jim Robb warns of a “five-alarm fire” for reliability. The solution may lie in building smarter — not just bigger — through advanced conductors and intelligent grid planning
The Warning
At a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reliability conference, Jim Robb, President and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), issued one of the most direct calls to action the power sector has heard in years.
“The reliability of the power grid remains extremely high,” Robb said, “but, paradoxically, the risks to reliability continue to mount. We’re seeing … an increasing number of small-scale events and near misses that continue to reinforce what we can’t call anything but a five-alarm fire when it comes to reliability.”
As summarized in Ethan Howland’s Utility Dive coverage, Robb’s remarks crystallized the growing concern that grid reliability metrics may no longer tell the full story. Beneath the surface, risks are compounding — from surging data center demand to aging infrastructure, cyber threats, and weather extremes that test the limits of grid flexibility.
Load Growth and Infrastructure Lag
The U.S. Department of Energy projects that data centers could consume 6.7% to 12% of all U.S. electricity by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023. This growth — driven by AI, cloud computing, and electrification — is happening faster than new generation and transmission can be built.
Even as reliability indicators remain high, reserve margins are tightening, and long permitting cycles continue to delay new transmission projects. One FERC leader summed it up well:
“We need every single megawatt, every single electron, and every single molecule we can get to meet demand on those peak days and peak hours.”
The path forward, then, isn’t just to build more infrastructure, but to build smarter, faster, and more efficiently using the corridors and assets already in place.
Adding “Shock Absorbers” to the Grid
As the system becomes more dynamic, grid planners and operators need new physical ‘shock absorbers’ — ways to handle sudden load changes, supply disruptions, or temperature extremes without compromising reliability or cost.
That’s where Advanced Conductors play a vital role.
Technologies such as CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor enable utilities to double the capacity of existing transmission lines while cutting line losses, reducing sag, and improving efficiency.
Legacy ACSR/ACSS conductor (L) and modern ACCC Conductor (R)
When combined with emerging real-time monitoring and sensing technologies, utilities gain enhanced situational awareness — visibility into conductor temperature, line loading, and overall system performance. Together, these tools transform transmission lines from static pathways into flexible, high-performance grid assets capable of meeting modern reliability challenges.
Reliability, Affordability, and Practical Innovation
Reliability cannot come at the expense of affordability. As Commissioner Lindsay See noted during the FERC meeting, electric bills are already challenging households across the country.
Some states are finding balanced approaches. In Georgia, large industrial and data center customers are helping finance new generation and transmission infrastructure through long-term contracts, offsetting costs for residential consumers. This kind of cost-sharing model can be replicated elsewhere, helping utilities modernize the grid without passing the full burden to ratepayers.
The Smarter Path Forward
America’s transmission backbone doesn’t need to be reinvented — it needs to be reinforced, reconductored, and reimagined. Replacing older steel-core conductors with carbon fiber–based composite designs can deliver 2× the current-carrying capacity with minimal new footprint.
This strategy accelerates grid expansion, reduces congestion, improves efficiency, and provides the flexibility to handle high-load growth — all within existing rights-of-way.
When paired with advanced analytics and modern system planning, it’s a practical blueprint for keeping the lights on in an increasingly complex energy landscape.
Turning the Alarm into Action
Jim Robb’s “five-alarm fire” warning isn’t a forecast of failure — it’s a call to innovate.
The technologies to strengthen, digitize, and future-proof the grid already exist. What’s needed now is the commitment to deploy them quickly and at scale.
By embracing Advanced Conductors, data-driven grid management, and smarter transmission planning, utilities can enhance reliability, reduce emissions, and ensure the nation’s energy infrastructure is ready for the demands of AI, electrification, and climate resilience.
The grid’s future doesn’t hinge solely on building more—it depends on building smarter.
Acknowledgment:
This article draws from and acknowledges “NERC president warns of ‘five-alarm fire’ for grid reliability” by Ethan Howland, published by Utility Dive on October 22, 2025.
Read the original Utility Dive article here → https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-center-grid-reliability-ferc-nerc/803467