The U.S. Department of Energy has extended an emergency order aimed at stabilizing the power grid in New England as another major winter storm approaches. The order, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) to operate certain power resources without regard to existing environmental permits or state regulations.
The extension comes as below-freezing temperatures are expected over the weekend and into early next week. ISO-NE requested the extension because emergency conditions are likely to continue beyond the duration of the original order, which was issued on January 25, 2026.
"This winter storm demonstrates why the Trump Administration continues to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction agenda of the previous administration,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Those policies weakened the grid and left Americans more vulnerable to blackouts and higher electricity prices. We are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump Administration is committed to using every available tool, and unleashing all available power generation, to keep the lights on and Americans safe.”
President Trump declared a national energy emergency at the start of his administration, citing concerns that earlier policies had made the grid more susceptible to outages. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that winter electricity demand is increasing rapidly while closures of coal and natural gas plants have heightened vulnerability during extreme weather events. In its Winter Reliability Assessment for 2025–2026, NERC warned that much of the continental United States faces elevated blackout risks during severe weather.
According to data from DOE’s National Laboratories, annual costs from power outages in the United States total $44 billion. The current order is intended not only to address potential blackouts in New England but also aims to mitigate outages in other regions such as the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.
The emergency authority will remain effective through February 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. These actions follow President Trump’s Executive Order declaring a national energy emergency and seek to maintain electricity supply while minimizing blackout risks.
