January 28, 2026
10:30 a.m. ET

More than 65,000 workers from at least 43 states and Canada are working day and night to restore power to the communities impacted by Winter Storm Fern. 

Though significant progress has been made—with power restored to more than 670,000 customers—crews are continuing to work diligently to restore power to all customers who can safely receive it. 

Thaw-and-freeze temperature cycles in the hardest hit communities continue to cause fallen trees and branches and impede roadways. As restoration progress continues, mutual assistance crews will continuously be reallocated to these most impacted communities until every customer who is able to receive power is safely restored.

The CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council will convene again this evening to ensure unity of effort at the highest levels of government and across all segments of the industry, including investor-owned electric companies, electric cooperatives, and public power utilities.

Safety Comes First

The energy grid is highly interconnected, and even if customers do not see crews in their neighborhoods or on their streets yet, essential repairs are underway.

Some customers may not be able to receive power to their homes because of damage. If fallen trees or heavy ice damaged the point where wires connect to a customer’s home or business, inspections by a licensed electrician may be required before power can be restored.

• Stay away from downed or sagging power lines and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized. Immediately report downed lines to your electric company.
• Stay clear of ice-covered trees and branches. Remember that ice is heavy, and branches and trees can fall long after the storm has cleared.
• Keep roadways clear in order to enable damage assessors and restoration workers to do their jobs.
• Follow all recommended precautions if using a personal generator. Never use a generator inside your home, garage, crawl space, other enclosed areas, or anywhere exhaust fumes can enter enclosed spaces. Never connect a generator to your home’s circuits. Plug appliances directly into the generator.
• Be aware of scammers and remember that your electric company will never request upfront payment or a reconnection fee in return for restoring your service. If you receive any suspicious-looking texts, don’t click the links and instead visit your electric company’s website for the latest updates.