The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has extended four emergency orders to help prevent blackouts in the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic as another winter storm approaches. The orders, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, apply to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (collectively known as Duke Energy), as well as PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM).
Both Duke Energy and PJM requested these extensions because emergency conditions are expected to continue beyond the duration of the original orders, which were first issued 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 declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term, citing concerns that prior policies had made the electrical grid more susceptible to outages. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reported that winter electricity demand is increasing rapidly while early closures of coal and natural gas plants have heightened risks for American families during extreme weather events. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment indicates that several regions across the continental United States face an increased risk of blackouts when severe weather strikes.
Data from DOE’s National Laboratories shows that power outages cost Americans $44 billion annually. The extension of these emergency orders aims to reduce such outages in affected regions and underscores current federal efforts to provide affordable and reliable electricity.
The new expiration dates for these orders are:
– PJM Order 202-26-02A: valid through 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026.
– PJM Order 202-26-06A: valid through 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026.
– Duke Order 202-26-05A: valid through 12:00 PM ET on February 3, 2026.
– Duke Order 202-26-07A: valid through 12:00 PM ET on February 3, 2026.
These actions follow President Trump’s Executive Order declaring a National Energy Emergency and are intended to ensure enough power generation is available during periods of high demand.
