US issues emergency order for PJM Interconnection as heatwave looms

June 30 (Reuters) - The ‌U.S. Department ​of ​Energy on Tuesday declared an emergency across the nation's largest power grid, citing ‌soaring demand and supply risks as extreme heat ⁠grips the region.

In an order issued under Section 202(c) ‌of the Federal Power ‌Act, the energy secretary said a statutory emergency exists in PJM interconnection's region due to ​a combination of surging electricity demand and limited generation capacity.

PJM submitted a formal request on ⁠June 29, warning of an "imminent electricity reliability emergency" driven by high ​temperature forecasts of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

PJM is projecting "peak loads of approximately ​159,563 megawatts (MW) on July 1, ‌2026 and approximately 162,860 MW on July 2, 2026. These levels raise ⁠risks of supply shortfalls, threatening grid stability.

The grid operator also flagged that some generation units could face constraints ⁠due to a restriction under an environmental permit or ​state requirement.

The DOE said the order is necessary to ensure sufficient electricity supply and to protect public safety.

PJM Interconnection ‌serves a large swathe of the eastern United States, and officials warned that ‌without intervention, extreme weather conditions could lead to ⁠system stress severe ‌enough to impact ​the ability to meet electricity demand

(Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru, Editing by Franklin ‌Paul)

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