[REVISION HISTORY]

DOE emergency power order covers 17 states

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-31 12:44 UTC → 2026-08-18 13:36 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following MISO’s late‑July warning of reserve depletion, the Southwest Power Pool issued a Level 3 Resource Advisory, prompting the U.S. Department of Energy to issue an emergency electricity order on July 26 that was broadened on July 27. The order temporarily waives select environmental rules and authorises SPP to dispatch idle backup generation, standby generators and battery storage across Arkansas and its 16 neighboring states, tapping more than 35 GW of unused capacity. It remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 3. A later clarification on July 29 identified the order’s reach as 17 states spanning from North Dakota to Louisiana, explicitly naming Texas, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and others. The directive is estimated to affect roughly 20 million people and includes provisions to prioritize electricity for critical infrastructure such as water‑treatment and irrigation systems. Forecasts of cooler air arriving in Montana by the weekend’s end are expected to ease grid pressure after several days of record heat. Utilities like SWEPCO have reported grid stability and no anticipated rolling blackouts, while urging modest thermostat adjustments and participation in energy‑saving programs to help maintain reliable power throughout the central United States during the heat dome. By mid-August, the Southwest Power Pool issued a new Resource Advisory on August 16 to monitor potential strain from a historic heatwave, expected to remain in effect through at least August 19. Officials noted this advisory is a precautionary measure and a normal operating condition that does not require specific public conservation actions.

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