The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has extended four emergency orders for the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic to help stabilize power grids as another winter storm approaches. The move comes after below-freezing temperatures were forecast for the upcoming weekend and early next week, increasing the risk of blackouts in these regions.
Two of the extended orders were issued to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress, while two others went to PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM). Both Duke Energy and PJM requested extensions due to continued emergency conditions beyond the initial order period. The original orders were given 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.”
On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency citing concerns that prior policies had made the electric grid more susceptible to outages. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reported that winter electricity demand is growing at its fastest rate in recent years. NERC’s Winter Reliability Assessment for 2025–2026 also noted an increased risk of blackouts during extreme weather because of closures of coal and natural gas plants.
According to DOE’s National Laboratories, annual power outages cost Americans $44 billion. Officials say that extending these orders will help prevent outages in affected areas while supporting access to reliable electricity.
The current validity periods for these emergency orders are as follows:
– PJM Order 202-26-02A: until 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026
– PJM Order 202-26-06A: until 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026
– Duke Order 202-26-05A: until 12:00 PM ET on February 3, 2026
– Duke Order 202-26-07A: until 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 electricity generation is available during periods of high demand.
