The Energy Secretary issued an emergency order on Aug. 5 to increase grid stability and minimize the risk of energy shortfalls in Guam, the latest in a series of federal interventions to address power reliability in U.S. territories.
The emergency order was issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, which authorizes the Energy Secretary to require emergency actions to maintain reliable electricity service, DOE said.
Guam’s power grid has faced structural vulnerabilities due to aging infrastructure and growing electricity demand, including from expanded U.S. military operations on the island. Guam hosts Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam, both critical assets in the U.S. Indo-Pacific military posture.
The grid stability concern carries national security implications beyond civilian power needs. Military installations on Guam depend on reliable electricity for operations, communications, and weapons systems readiness.
The emergency order follows a pattern of similar DOE actions taken this summer for other U.S. territories and states. The department recently closed a $489.4 million grid improvement loan for Puerto Rico, which has faced chronic power reliability challenges for years.
The repeated use of emergency orders to address grid reliability in U.S. territories reflects systemic infrastructure challenges that federal investment has not yet fully resolved. Territory power systems generally lack the interconnection with neighboring grids that provides backup capacity on the U.S. mainland.
Guam Power Authority serves approximately 52,000 residential and commercial customers on the island. The territory’s population of approximately 170,000 depends entirely on the island’s standalone grid for electricity.