Coal- and natural-gas-fired power generators helped meet customer electricity demand during the surge in usage during winter storm Fern, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a statement on Jan. 28.
“In the week ending January 25, 2026, as Winter Storm Fern affected significant portions of the country, coal-fired electricity generation in the Lower 48 states increased 31 percent from the previous week. The increase contrasts with coal use in the earlier part of January, which had milder weather and consequently lower coal-fired generation compared with the same period in 2025,” the EIA said.
