The Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday declared an emergency across the nation's largest power grid, citing soaring demand and supply risks as extreme heat grips the region.
In an order issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the energy secretary said a statutory emergency exists in PJM interconnection's region due to a combination of surging electricity demand and limited generation capacity.
PJM submitted a formal request on June 29, warning of an "imminent electricity reliability emergency" driven by high temperature forecasts of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
PJM is projecting "peak loads of approximately 159,563 megawatts (MW) on July 1, 2026 and approximately 162,860 MW on July 2, 2026. These levels raise risks of supply shortfalls, threatening grid stability.
The grid operator also flagged that some generation units could face constraints due to a restriction under an environmental permit or state requirement.
The DOE said the order is necessary to ensure sufficient electricity supply and to protect public safety.
PJM Interconnection serves a large swathe of the eastern United States, and officials warned that without intervention, extreme weather conditions could lead to system stress severe enough to impact the ability to meet electricity demand