U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order for the Mid-Atlantic regional grid, aimed at lowering blackout risks during a period of above-normal temperatures and elevated autumn electricity demand.
Because energy needs climb when weather gets notably hot or cold, and forecasts anticipate higher-than-average temperatures locally, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright took action by issuing an emergency order designed to mitigate the threat of power outages during a stretch of heightened energy consumption across the Mid-Atlantic territory.
The Mid-Atlantic grid includes Virginia and 12 other states, along with the District of Columbia, to the north and east, which are part of PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that coordinates wholesale electricity movement. Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue noted that the grid is seeing unusually hot October weather alongside scheduled maintenance. Today we have an unusually hot day in October and there are power stations across the Mid-Atlantic region that are out for maintenance,
Blue said.
PJM Grid Operations and Generator Maintenance
The emergency order followed a request submitted on October 11 under Federal Power Act Section 202(c). The mandate commands PJM Interconnection to activate designated power plants and permit auxiliary generation strictly as a final measure prior to or throughout an Energy Emergency Alert. Federal blackout-prevention directives usually instruct system operators to fire up particular reserve generators, delay the retirement of older power facilities, or modify when equipment undergoes servicing during high-use periods.
Blue explained that autumn is the standard window for utility companies to service generating units. The expectation in the shoulder seasons is that’s the time you do work on your power plant so that it’s ready to operate when it’s super cold or super-hot,
Blue said.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that more than 35 GW of unused backup generation remains available nationwide. This order will help ensure millions of American families and businesses across the mid-Atlantic have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including backup power, available to use as needed,
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.
Conservation Steps and Regional Impact
Dominion Power supplies electricity to about half of the state, including Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina. To reduce strain on the system during the elevated demand period, officials noted that residents can turn off non-essential lights, delay using heavy appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, and adjust thermostats.
The emergency order is in effect through Thursday, October 16.