The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an emergency order to help prevent blackouts in the Carolinas due to high temperatures. This order, enacted under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC to utilize specific resources to ensure power reliability. The directive enables Duke Energy, along with its partners, to activate backup generation resources before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert 3, or during such an alert.
This action follows a request from Duke Energy made on September 18, 2026. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright emphasized that the order will ensure that millions in North and South Carolina have reliable electricity access during this extreme heat.
The order is effective from September 18, 2026, to September 21, 2026. For more details, further information is available from the Department of Energy.
