Energy Secretary Issues Emergency Orders to Bolster Mid-Atlantic Power Grid Amid Heat Wave Risks

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued two emergency orders Tuesday to stabilize the Mid-Atlantic electricity grid ahead of forecasted extreme heat that could push demand to record levels and cause widespread blackouts.

The directives, which went into effect late Tuesday, target the PJM Interconnection, which serves more than 65 million people over 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The emergency actions respond to applications filed by PJM on Saturday and Monday. They will remain in effect until late Friday.

They authorize the dispatch of specific generation units and permit backup resources to operate as a last resort before declaring a higher-level energy emergency.

“Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM service territory is non-negotiable,” Wright said in a statement. “The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during events like this. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool ensuring Americans in the Mid-Atlantic have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes.”

The orders come as a heat dome expands across the eastern United States, with forecasters warning of dangerous temperatures in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

An NWS bulletin reported that “dangerous heat” with temperatures in the 90s and lower 100s Fahrenheit across most of the central and eastern parts of the country will start this week. High humidity combined with high temperatures “will produce heat indices” around 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit in areas of the southern Plains, the Mississippi Valley, and the Mid-Atlantic.

PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, has issued alerts during similar heat events, urging conservation and preparing resources amid rising peak loads.

According to the Department of Energy, more than 35 gigawatts of untapped backup generation are available nationwide.

The move underscores ongoing concerns about grid reliability during extreme weather. Power outages already cost the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars annually, according to Department of Energy data. In the PJM region, summer peaks have grown amid rising demand, including from data centers and other large loads.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment noted risks in PJM, underscoring the potential need for demand response measures if extreme heat develops. On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency.

Past heat waves have prompted alerts and calls for conservation. In one prior summer event, PJM warned of potential capacity issues as loads approached 150,000 megawatts or more.

Wright’s orders emphasize using all available tools to maintain services. The administration has previously taken steps to keep certain coal-fired plants operational through similar emergency authorities, drawing legal challenges from some states.