Emergency order issued to maintain electricity supply in Mid-Atlantic ahead of winter
On November 25, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order aimed at preventing blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic region as winter approaches. The directive requires PJM Interconnection (PJM), working with Constellation Energy, to keep Units 3 and 4 of the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania operational through the winter months. The order also instructs PJM to take steps to minimize energy costs for consumers.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is using all tools available to keep the lights on and heat running for the American people,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “This emergency order is needed to strengthen grid reliability and will help provide affordable, reliable, and secure power when Americans need it most.”
The Department of Energy referenced its Resource Adequacy Report, which projects that if reliable power sources are removed from service, power outages could become up to 100 times more frequent by 2030.
The two Eddystone units were originally scheduled for retirement but were ordered by Secretary Wright in May 2025 to remain online during summer months. Their continued operation provided additional support during heat waves in June and July when PJM called on them for electricity generation. A follow-up order was issued in August 2025.
PJM has reported ongoing concerns about having enough resources to meet demand both now and in future years. In January 2025, PJM recorded a new peak for winter energy demand, surpassing a previous record set in 2015.
The current emergency order will be effective from November 26, 2025 until February 24, 2026.
PJM has raised concerns about resource adequacy over several years. In a report from February 2023, PJM noted risks related to the timing between retiring old power plants and bringing new ones online while meeting growing demand. In December 2024, PJM filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) stating that preliminary analysis shows significant increases in load additions and that concerns over resource adequacy are rising quickly (PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., FERC Docket No. ER25-712). During a March 2025 congressional hearing, Manu Asthana, President and CEO of PJM Interconnection, testified about “growing resource adequacy concern . . . impacting a significant part of our country” (testimony available here).
