The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an emergency order to mitigate blackout risks in South Carolina and North Carolina due to high temperatures. This order allows Duke Energy Carolinas to utilize specific resources and manage operations to ensure reliability, including using backup generators before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright emphasized the importance of this order for maintaining electricity access for families and businesses in the region.
Duke Energy serves over 870,000 customers in South Carolina, primarily in the Upstate and Pee Dee areas. The emergency order is effective from September 18, 2026, to September 21, 2026.
