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DOE issues emergency power order for 17 U.S. states during heat wave
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an emergency electricity order that covers 17 states, from North Dakota to Louisiana, to keep the power grid reliable as extreme summer heat drives up demand. The order directs the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch generation units and authorizes the use of backup generation resources, tapping more than 35 gigawatts of unused capacity nationwide. It is intended to prevent level‑three emergency alerts and rolling outages, and will remain in effect from July 26 through Aug 3 2026.
The order affects roughly 20 million people and includes states such as Texas, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Utah and Wyoming. The Department of Energy estimates power outages cost Americans about $44 billion each year. In Montana, cooler air is forecast to arrive by the weekend’s end, which should reduce grid pressure after several days of record heat.
The emergency directive also gives the DOE authority to prioritize electricity for critical infrastructure, including water treatment and irrigation systems that rely on stable power supplies.
Entities
Chris Wright · Montana · Southwest Power Pool · Texas · U.S. Department of Energy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Power outages cost Americans an estimated $44 billion each year. 963theblaze.com · z100missoula.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The order allows use of more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation nationwide. 963theblaze.com · z100missoula.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The affected grid serves about 20 million people from North Dakota to Louisiana. nam.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The order directs the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch generation units as needed. nam.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cooler weather is expected in Montana by the weekend’s end, easing grid demand. 963theblaze.com · z100missoula.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The emergency order is effective from July 26 through August 3 2026. 963theblaze.com · z100missoula.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order covering 17 states to maintain reliable electricity during extreme heat. thegardenmagazine.com · 963theblaze.com · nam.org · z100missoula.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The order aims to avoid level‑three emergency alerts and rolling outages. nam.org