US power infrastructure is falling far behind demand, which is bad for households facing higher bills and rolling blackouts, and a warning to get off-grid where you can.

• The Energy Department issued an emergency order across 17 states in the Southwest to add power and avoid blackouts during extreme heat.
• The eastern grid operator (PJM, covering 13 states and 65 million people) has already warned it can't guarantee full service on peak days starting mid-2027.
• China now makes more than twice the electricity the US does, giving it a big edge in the power-hungry AI race, while new US nuclear plants are 15+ years away and add little.
• AI data centers will get priority over homes, so power-hungry computing stays on even if air conditioning gets cut.
• War and sanctions have choked key supply chains — gas turbines (made in Russia) now have 8–9 year waits, and materials for batteries, helium for MRIs, and refined uranium are all pinched.

Outlook: Grid strain, higher electricity prices, and blackout risk are expected to worsen for years, pushing more people toward solar, batteries, and off-grid backup.