Utility records show that increased temperatures increase overall energy consumption in the United States. As global temperatures increase, locations can expect fewer extremely cold days (<10° F) during winter and more extremely hot days (>95° F) during summer. For the Southeast, Great Plains, and the Southwest, the number of extremely hot days is projected to increase substantially compared to the decrease in the number of extremely cold days.

Changes in the Energy System

In 2016, natural gas replaced coal as the leading source of electricity generation in the United States, and net imports of petroleum reached a new low. New drilling technologies (mainly hydraulic fracturing or "fracking") have increased natural gas production, lowered prices, and enabled greater consumption.

The vast majority of individuals and businesses across the United States count on a secure supply of energy, for everything from charging mobile phones to running massive industrial operations. As interconnections among telecommunications, transportation, and other critical systems increase, efforts to build resilience of the energy sector will benefit nearly everyone.

Supply chains are the sequences of processes involved in the production and distribution of goods and services. In today’s economy, many supply chains are complex international networks that rely on roads, rails, waterways, air routes, and pipelines to gather raw materials and deliver goods and services to the customers who use them. Telecommunication systems are also an important part of supply chains: communication services are essential for tracking and coordinating inventories and orders.