U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order directing the PJM Interconnection to dispatch specified units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability and authorizes PJM to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3 or during an EEA 3.
The order aims to mitigate blackout risks in the mid-Atlantic ahead of a period of elevated demand, a high rate of planned generator outages during the autumn maintenance season, and numerous planned transmission outages.
PJM is authorized to call upon its Transmission Owners and Electric Distribution Companies to implement the order as needed, DOE said.
The order, which was issued pursuant to an application from PJM submitted on October 11, 2026, is effective October 13, 2026, through October 16, 2026.
