The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an emergency order to deploy idle power sources in 17 states, aiming to prevent blackouts as extreme heat pushes the nation's power grid to its limits. The order, which remains in effect through August 3, authorizes the operator serving parts of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming to activate backup generators if electricity supplies become strained. This measure is one step short of a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert, which could lead to rolling blackouts.
The emergency authorization comes as approximately 40 million Americans are under extreme heat warnings. Temperatures and heat indexes are forecast to exceed 100°F across much of the affected region, with some areas in Louisiana potentially reaching 113°F to 115°F. Meteorologists attribute the severe conditions to a heat dome trapping hot air over the region, causing prolonged temperature spikes.
"As we experience more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves, our ability to keep homes, businesses and critical facilities cool depends on having a reliable and resilient electric grid," said former DOE official Kerry Duggan. The Department of Energy estimates that more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation capacity is available nationwide.
The risk of rotating blackouts had escalated in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region in the week prior. On Friday, a sudden loss of imported electricity from neighboring grids left SPP with critically low reserves. The situation was exacerbated by potential power plant outages and a decrease in renewable energy generation within its territory, which includes parts of Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah. SPP averted outages that day by requesting voluntary electricity conservation. However, the grid operator anticipated the highest demand of the week for its western territory on Sunday evening as temperatures climbed above 90°F.