PJM Interconnection has activated emergency measures ahead of a projected winter record in regional electricity demand. In a posting on its Emergency Procedures page at 10:15 Eastern Time on Monday, the transmission operator announced a Maximum Generation Emergency/Load Management Alert and an EEA1 for Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
The alert is scheduled to remain in force for the entirety of Tuesday, effective from 00:01 through 23:59. The operator's notice states, "Maximum Generation Emergency has been called into the operating capacity." It directs generation dispatchers to provide PJM with estimates of how quickly generators that are on planned outage could return to service. These "Early Return Time" updates are to be submitted through PJM's eDART system.
Alongside the emergency declaration, PJM published its load forecasts for the week, showing elevated demand stretching beyond Tuesday. The operator's daily projections are:
- Monday, January 26: 137,800 MW
- Tuesday, January 27: 147,200 MW
- Wednesday, January 28: 145,600 MW
- Thursday, January 29: 144,500 MW
- Friday, January 30: 145,900 MW
- Saturday, January 31: 131,000 MW
- Sunday, February 1: 126,000 MW
The 147,200 MW load forecast for Tuesday would constitute a new winter peak for PJM, the regional transmission organization that manages and coordinates the high-voltage electric grid across 13 states and the District of Columbia.
PJM's request for Early Return Time estimates indicates the operator is seeking information on how rapidly capacity on planned outage might be restored, should system conditions require it. The emergency classification and the EEA1 status are formal steps that alert market participants and operators to tight supply-demand conditions and the potential need for coordinated action to maintain system reliability.
For the remainder of the week, PJM's outlook continues to show high daily load projections in the mid-140,000 MW range, with a decline projected for the weekend. Exact figures for each day are listed above per PJM's published forecasts.
Summary
PJM has issued a Maximum Generation Emergency/Load Management Alert and an EEA1 for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, forecasting a winter record peak of 147,200 MW and requesting Early Return Time estimates via eDART from generation dispatchers for units on planned outage.