A nonprofit U.S. electricity oversight body is warning many regions face high reliability risks amid soaring power demand that is rising faster than infrastructure development can support. The strains come as crypto miners flood into grids like Texas'.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) declared large swathes of the U.S. and Canada at elevated threat of shortages through 2025 in its latest forecast. Crypto mining concentration in Texas further muddies planning as operations toggle unpredictably chasing profitability.

NERC states development lags mounting consumption spikes from electrification, data centers, domestic migration shifts and extreme weather. Nine states faced rolling blackouts last December as grids buckled, underscoring fraying buffers.

Approved ERCOT crypto mining connections already approach 10 gigawatts as applications for 40 more await Texas approval. But NERC says appropriate planning is nearly impossible with miners abruptly switching on or off chasing energy arbitrage — jeopardizing stability.

While policy aims to cut emissions, reliability tradeoffs loom according to utilities lobbying groups. They warn overriding focus on decarbonization absent bolstering capacity sows the seeds of sweeping failures as demand snowballs beyond means.

Crypto's flexibility paradoxically destabilizes grids lacking large quick-start generation. As more miners flood in, Texas races to marshal resources under unlikely-to-be-heeded calls for caution. An overloaded system governs the growing risks.