The U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday issued an emergency order covering PJM Interconnection's territory, the nation's largest power grid, citing sharply increased demand and risks to supply as extreme heat moves into the region.
Issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the order states that a statutory emergency exists in PJM's footprint due to the combined effect of forecasted high temperatures and limited available generation capacity. The DOE said the action is needed to help secure adequate electricity supplies and to protect public safety.
PJM formally requested federal intervention on June 29, saying the grid operator faced an "imminent electricity reliability emergency" driven by forecasted temperatures of roughly 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. In its filing, PJM projected peak loads of approximately 159,563 megawatts (MW) on July 1, 2026 and approximately 162,860 MW on July 2, 2026. Those projected peaks, PJM warned, raise the possibility of supply shortfalls that could undermine grid stability.
The regional operator further noted that a portion of generation could be limited by constraints tied to an environmental permit or a state requirement, increasing the risk that available capacity may not be sufficient to meet demand during the hottest hours.
PJM Interconnection serves a broad portion of the eastern United States. Officials emphasized that without federal assistance to expand operational flexibility, the combination of extreme weather and constrained generation could produce system stress severe enough to affect the grid's ability to meet electricity needs.
The DOE's order is aimed at ensuring that sufficient electricity can be delivered across the affected region while minimizing threats to public safety posed by potential outages or system instability during the forecasted heat wave.
Contextual note: The information above reflects the details contained in the emergency order, PJM's formal request and the DOE's stated rationale. No additional facts beyond those provided in the filings are included.