The Department of Energy (DOE) issued two emergency orders directing PJM to dispatch specific units and use backup generation as a last resort to prevent rolling blackouts. [1]

PJM forecasts that power demand could reach 165 gigawatts (GW) on July 4, potentially testing the all-time peak of 165.563 GW set in August 2006. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated, "Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM service territory is non-negotiable." [1][2]

Heat Dome Drives Cooling Demand Surge

According to Bloomberg, maximum temperatures in the Washington, D.C., metro area are expected to reach the low triple digits from Thursday through Saturday. The heat dome is expected to affect tens of millions of households and businesses, increasing air conditioning use and straining the grid, PJM said. [1]

PJM has issued a Hot Weather Alert through July 3 for its entire 13-state, 67-million-person service area, along with Maximum Generation, Load Management and Low Voltage alerts for Wednesday. [3]

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that "dangerous, record-breaking heat will continue across most of the central and eastern U.S. through Friday," with peak heat indices of up to 115 F possible. [4]

Emergency Orders and Actions

The DOE's first order, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, directs PJM "to dispatch specified units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability," according to the announcement. The second order requires PJM, working with transmission owners and electric distribution companies, to use backup generation as a last resort before or during a Level 3 energy emergency. [2]

PJM submitted a formal request on June 29, warning of an "imminent electricity emergency" due to surging demand and limited generation capacity, according to the DOE order. [2] The grid operator said the alerts do not require action from residents or businesses but are part of preparedness measures to maintain reliable service. [3]

Grid Composition and Historical Context

PJM's power mix is currently dominated by natural gas, nuclear, and coal generation, according to the grid operator's data. [1] The grid serves all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., as noted in historical reports. [5]

PJM's emergency pool structure has long included members like Public Service Electric and Gas, which coordinates wholesale power purchases across the region. [6]

Concerns about grid reliability have risen amid data center buildouts and aging infrastructure, though the immediate cause is extreme heat. A NaturalNews.com article from July 2025 warned that artificial intelligence (AI) server demand has doubled power consumption in some areas, straining the eastern U.S. grid. [7]