The Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on Tuesday to reduce the risk of blackouts across Southeastern states as a summer heatwave bakes the region and strains the grid.
DOE’s order allows Duke Energy Carolina to mitigate the threat of blackouts brought about by high temperatures through running some of their electricity units at maximum capacity until Wednesday night, according to the agency. The action is one of several recent moves by the Trump administration to secure America’s fragile electricity grid that could continue to pose problems this summer, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a grid watchdog.
“As electricity demand reaches its peak, Americans should not be forced to wonder if their power grid can support their homes and businesses. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy will use all tools available to maintain a reliable, affordable, and secure energy system for the American people,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “This order ensures Duke Energy Carolinas can supply its customers with consistent and reliable power throughout peak summer demand.”
— U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) June 24, 2025
Duke Energy provides electricity to millions of customers across seven states, including Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky, as well as North and South Carolina, according to its website.
Wright issued a similar emergency order on May 23 that directed a major grid operator to keep a Michigan coal plant running. New Orleans, which is also covered by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) power system, experienced a large outage just two days later.
A recent NERC assessment found that four major grid operators are at an “elevated risk” of failing to meet electricity demand this summer in extreme conditions. The heat wave radiating across the East Coast is projected to last for a few days, according to multiple reports.
The electricity grid needs to be strengthened with more power, particularly from reliable sources like coal, nuclear or natural gas, energy sector experts previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Notably, NERC’s 2024 report, as well as analysis from Always On Energy Research, have both projected that power shortages could begin in regions across the U.S. in the next few years.
Former President Joe Biden’s push for green energy and strict environmental regulations may have contributed to the low energy supply in the U.S., several energy sector experts and Wright have cautioned. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has worked to cut red tape to allow for more conventional energy sources to thrive and declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in the Oval Office.
Duke Energy did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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