When arctic air swept across the Eastern U.S. in January 2025, it pushed natural gas systems and the electric grid to their limits.
Thanks to strong preparation and new infrastructure – including the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline – those systems held strong, according to a new joint report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
VACAR South, the grid operator serving North Carolina and South Carolina, reported the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) “played a crucial role in maintaining reliable electric supply during this high demand period by sustaining stable pipeline pressure.”
The 303-mile pipeline, which entered operation in June 2024, transports domestic natural gas from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia, where it delivers into the Transco system that carries natural gas north and south along the Eastern Seaboard.
During the period of frigid cold in January 2025, MVP reached its full capacity, transporting 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to meet public demand from its customers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and other states.
The joint report also noted natural gas supply disruptions were relatively limited during the cold spell, largely due to industry lessons learned during prior winter storms. These included efforts by operators to:
- Secure more firm transportation contracts,
- Winterizing critical facilities,
- Improving coordination between gas suppliers and power generators.