The U.S. Department of Energy renewed two emergency orders for Puerto Rico's electric grid on August 10, 2026, keeping the authorities in effect through November 7, 2026. The orders authorize PREPA to dispatch generation units DOE has flagged as essential to keeping key power plants running, and they keep vegetation clearing work underway to cut outages and strengthen grid reliability against blackouts over time.
DOE first issued the two orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act on May 16, 2025, allowing specific generation units to operate under certain conditions while directing vegetation management along key transmission lines. The renewal builds on further DOE actions taken in 2025 and 2026, and the agency said the orders help keep electricity flowing to Puerto Ricans if unexpected problems arise. DOE said the renewal comes as Puerto Rico faces rising electricity demand and the 2026 hurricane season.
Vegetation work near power lines
DOE said falling tree limbs or brush during Puerto Rico's frequent storms and high winds can damage transmission lines and cause outages, with wildfires an added risk. The renewed orders keep vegetation clearing projects moving along rights-of-way near transmission and distribution lines.
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón said the orders have helped restore or refurbish about 1,600 megawatts of generation capacity since May 2025. She said the number of approved federal vegetation clearing projects has grown from 5 to 33 over that period.
Reaction
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the renewal "ensures critical work moves forward, urgent reliability changes are addressed." González-Colón said "we have made measurable progress to strengthen Puerto Rico's electric system" over the last 19 months.
DOE said it will keep working with González-Colón and local authorities on grid reliability and security for Puerto Rico's 3.2 million Americans.
