The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on September 3 authorizing Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC to dispatch specified generating units and direct backup generation resources across the Carolinas, as hot weather raises the risk of blackouts. The order runs from September 3 through September 8, 2026, covering the Labor Day holiday weekend.
DOE issued the order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the same emergency policy tool that lets the agency direct utility actions to preserve grid reliability. Duke filed the application for the order on September 3. Under the order, Duke can dispatch designated units and order their operation as needed to maintain reliability. Duke, working with its Transmission Owners, can also direct backup generation resources to run as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3, or during one.
Wright ties order to Trump's energy emergency
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the order means Carolinas residents and businesses will keep access to power over the holiday weekend. He said grid reliability had weakened under what he called "energy subtraction" policies from the prior administration, leaving the region more exposed to events like the current heat.
DOE said President Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office, after what the agency described as the prior administration's energy subtraction agenda left the grid increasingly vulnerable to blackout risk.
