The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has extended four emergency orders to support the power grids in the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic as another winter storm approaches. The orders, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, were granted to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Duke Energy Progress, and PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM). These measures are intended to prevent blackouts during a period of expected freezing temperatures.
Both Duke Energy and PJM requested that the DOE extend these emergency authorizations because severe weather conditions are forecasted to last beyond the original order dates. The initial orders were put in place on January 24 and January 26, 2026.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated: "Winter Storm Fern proves that decisive action by the Trump Administration is crucial to reversing the dangerous energy subtraction agenda of the previous administration. Those policies weakened the grid and left Americans more vulnerable. 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 had declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term, citing concerns about grid reliability following policy changes made by his predecessor. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that demand for electricity during winter months is rising quickly while closures of coal and natural gas plants have increased risks for outages during extreme weather events. NERC's Winter Reliability Assessment for 2025–2026 indicates an elevated risk of blackouts across much of the continental United States when faced with severe weather.
Data from DOE’s National Laboratories show that power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually. The new orders aim to reduce these losses by maintaining reliable electricity supply in affected regions.
The specific extensions are as follows: PJM Order 202-26-02A and PJM Order 202-26-06A are now effective through February 2, 2026; Duke Order 202-26-05A and Duke Order 202-26-07A remain valid through February 3, 2026.
These actions follow President Trump’s executive order declaring a national energy emergency and seek to ensure enough generation capacity is available to meet high demand during this period.
