The U.S. Department of Energy on Jan. 26 issued an emergency order to mitigate blackouts in New York and the surrounding area following Winter Storm Fern.
Issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the order authorizes New York ISO (NYISO) to run specified resources located within the New York region, regardless of limits established by environmental permits or state law.
The order will help NYISO respond to extreme temperatures and storm damage across New York and reduce costs for Americans due to the winter storm.
The order is in effect from January 26—February 2, 2026.
DOE has issued similar orders in recent days tied to other grid operators in the U.S.
