The U.S. Department of Energy has extended an emergency order to help prevent blackouts in New England as another winter storm approaches. The extension, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) to operate certain power resources beyond environmental permit or state law restrictions.
The original emergency order was put in place on January 25, 2026, and the new extension is set to last through February 14, 2026. ISO-NE requested this continuation due to ongoing emergency conditions expected from freezing temperatures over the coming weekend and into early next week.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright commented on the decision: “This winter storm demonstrates why the Trump Administration continues to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction agenda of the previous administration,” said Wright. “Those policies weakened the grid and left Americans more vulnerable to blackouts and higher electricity prices. 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 had previously declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term, citing concerns about grid reliability following policy changes by prior administrations. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that winter electricity demand is increasing rapidly while closures of coal and natural gas plants have made some regions more susceptible to outages during severe weather events.
According to data from DOE’s National Laboratories, annual costs related to power outages reach $44 billion for Americans. The Department says this latest order aims not only to reduce outages in New England but also highlights federal efforts intended to provide affordable and reliable electricity across affected regions such as the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.
The orders align with President Trump’s executive directive declaring a national energy emergency and are designed to maintain generation capacity while minimizing blackout risks.
