The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has extended four emergency orders to help prevent blackouts in the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic as a second major winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures through early next week. The extensions, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, apply to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (together known as Duke Energy), as well as PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM).
Both Duke Energy and PJM requested that the original orders—issued on January 24 and January 26, 2026—be extended because emergency conditions are expected to continue past their initial expiration dates.
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.”
President Trump declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term due to concerns about grid vulnerability following changes made by prior administrations. According to analysis from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), demand for electricity during winter months is rising rapidly while closures of coal and natural gas plants have increased risks for power outages across many regions in extreme weather.
Data from DOE’s National Laboratories indicates that annual costs from power outages reach $44 billion nationwide. The current emergency order aims to reduce these costs by stabilizing electricity supply in affected regions.
The specific orders now have new expiration times:
– PJM Order 202-26-02A: valid until 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026
– PJM Order 202-26-06A: valid until 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2026
– Duke Order 202-26-05A: valid until noon ET on February 3, 2026
– Duke Order 202-26-07A: valid until noon 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 capacity remains available during periods of high demand.
