U.S. Power Grid Emergency Amid Heat Dome

A persistent high‑pressure system, described as a heat dome, has pushed temperatures above 100 °F across the central and eastern United States, placing the nation’s largest regional grid, PJM Interconnection, under extreme stress. The U.S. Department of Energy, acting on an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, authorized power plants in the PJM region—serving about 67 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia—to operate at maximum capacity and, if needed, use backup generators to keep electricity flowing.

The surge in air‑conditioning use has driven demand to record levels, prompting utilities to urge customers to conserve energy. Experts advise setting thermostats to around 78 °F, a step that can cut bills by roughly 3 % per degree. The National Weather Service has issued heat alerts for more than 185 million Americans, and numerous Independence Day events were cancelled or postponed because of hazardous conditions. The episode highlights growing concerns about grid resilience as AI data centers and broader electrification increase future load.

Despite the pressure, widespread blackouts have been avoided, though isolated outages have occurred in several states.