Research
In-depth analysis of major power outage events, grid reliability, and restoration performance.
June 26, 2026 — Dr. Jay Shafer and Ashna Upadhyay
How Thunderstorms Produce Major Power Outages: Case Study of the June 10–15, 2026 Midwest Severe Weather Outbreak
The June 10–15, 2026 Midwest severe weather outbreak was the largest thunderstorm-forced outage event of 2026, with nearly 2 million customers affected and concurrent outages approaching 800,000. Bow echo thunderstorms produced widespread straight-line wind damage across Illinois (304,000 customers) and Indiana (204,000 customers).
May 21, 2026 — Dr. Jay Shafer and Ashna Upadhyay
Beyond the Peak: Measuring Outage Severity During Winter Storm Iona
Winter Storm Iona (March 15–22, 2026) caused power outages to nearly 2 million customers across the central and eastern United States through widespread winds, freezing rain and ice, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes. A new Outage Severity Index (OSI) integrates outage magnitude, duration, and velocity to compare impacts across hazard types.
April 21, 2026 — Dr. Jay Shafer, Chief Innovation Officer
The March 13, 2026 Midwest Windstorm: A New Framework for Evaluating Power Outage Vulnerability During High Wind Events
The March 13, 2026 windstorm brought widespread 50–60 mph winds with localized hurricane-force gusts across the Great Lakes and Midwest. Peak outages reached approximately 1.37 million customers across 8 states, with Ohio accounting for over half of impacts.
March 11, 2026 — Dr. Jay Shafer, Chief Innovation Officer
Winter Storm Fern: Power Outage Impacts, Restoration Performance, and Grid Resilience Lessons for Utilities and Regulators
Winter Storm Fern (January 2026) was a record-breaking winter storm producing widespread ice and heavy snow across much of the central and eastern United States. At peak, more than 2 million people were without power across 10 states.