January 27, 2026 /SemiMedia/ — Prolonged cold weather across parts of the United States is increasing electricity demand and tightening power supply, drawing attention from the semiconductor industry, particularly in Texas.

Grid operators have indicated that sustained heating demand is pushing systems toward high-load conditions over multiple days. To maintain grid stability, U.S. authorities have approved the use of backup generation and asked large industrial consumers to reduce usage during peak periods. Power prices in wholesale markets have risen sharply as supply margins narrowed.

Texas hosts a large share of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity, including fabs producing analog chips, power devices and advanced logic. Chip production requires continuous and stable electricity, making extended power stress more relevant than short-term price volatility.

Samsung Electronics’ new 2-nanometer fab in Taylor remains in the equipment testing phase, with the company saying it is monitoring power and weather conditions. Texas Instruments said it is assessing potential impacts under its existing business continuity plans.

Industry sources noted that during the 2021 winter storm, power outages forced several Texas fabs to suspend operations. While preventive measures are in place this time, the duration of high-load conditions is expected to be the key factor in determining whether chip production will be affected.