US Government Orders Emergency Power Measures for Mid-Atlantic Grid

The United States government issued an emergency order on October 14, 2026, to prevent potential power outages in the Mid-Atlantic region, which serves 67 million people. The order, announced by the US Department of Energy, directs PJM Interconnection to activate specified power generation units and deploy backup electricity resources if necessary to maintain supply.

PJM Interconnection must implement the order from Tuesday, October 13, through Friday, October 16, amid concerns over increased electricity demand, planned power plant maintenance, and scheduled transmission outages. The emergency order allows PJM to direct backup generators to operate as a last resort before declaring its highest-level Energy Emergency Alert or while such an alert is in effect.

The order follows an application by PJM submitted on October 11, as the operator prepared for heightened pressure on the electricity system. PJM Interconnection can also require transmission owners and electricity distribution companies to execute the emergency measures.