The U.S. Department of Energy has extended an emergency order to support New England’s electricity grid as a second major winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures over the weekend and into early next week. The extension, made under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) to operate certain power resources beyond environmental or state-imposed limits.
ISO-NE requested this extension due to ongoing emergency conditions that are projected to last past the expiration of the original order, which was issued on January 25, 2026.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated, “This winter storm demonstrates why the Trump Administration continues to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction agenda of the previous administration. Those policies weakened the grid and left Americans more vulnerable to blackouts and higher electricity prices. We are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump Administration is committed to using every available tool, and unleashing all available power generation, to keep the lights on and Americans safe.”
President Trump declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term, citing concerns that previous policies had made the grid more susceptible to outages. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that winter electricity demand is increasing rapidly and that closures of coal and natural gas plants have increased risks for families during extreme weather events. NERC’s 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment warns that many regions in the continental United States face heightened blackout risks when faced with severe weather.
According to data from DOE’s National Laboratories, annual power outages cost Americans $44 billion. The current emergency order aims not only to reduce outages in New England but also addresses potential impacts in other regions such as the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas by ensuring access to affordable and reliable electricity.
The extended order will remain effective until 11:59 PM ET on February 14, 2026.
These actions follow President Trump’s Executive Order declaring a National Energy Emergency and are intended to maintain adequate power supply while minimizing blackout risks.
