Energy

Power Grid Sizzles Under Blistering Heat Wave Across 17 States

Energy Secretary Chris Wright (Screen Capture/CSPAN)

A southwestern heat wave ignited a grid emergency Sunday prompting the Department of Energy to act.

The Department of Energy issued an emergency order Sunday prompting South West Power Pool Inc. (SPP) to gather backup generation units and backup power to prevent blackouts across 17 states caused by extreme heat, according to the department’s press release.

The department determined “that a statutory emergency exists” due to “a sudden increase in demand, a shortage of electric energy, a shortage of facilities for the generation and transmission of electric energy, and other causes.”

“The Trump Administration is tapping into an abundant supply of unused backup generation to maintain affordable, reliable, and secure power for hardworking American families and businesses,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said via the press release.

“The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during emergency events,” Wright added. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to ensure Americans have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes.”

The White House press room and SPP each did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.

“U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order to keep Americans powered during the regions’ energy emergency brought on by hot weather conditions. The order directs the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) to dispatch specified generation units and to order their operation as needed to maintain reliability,” a DOE CESER spokesperson told the DCNF in a statement.

“The order also authorizes SPP to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) 3 or during an EEA 3. The order was issued pursuant to a request from SPP. The order is effective on July 26, 2026, and shall expire at 11:59 PM CDT on August 3, 2026,” the spokesperson added.

The DOE’s Order 202-26037, authorizes Southwest Power Pool to use specific generation units and backup generation resources to operate to maintain grid reliability.

“SPP remained under a Conservative Operations Advisory on July 20, 2026, then extended the Conservative Operations Advisory on July 21 and again July 22, July 23, and July 24, due to “potential forecast uncertainty including higher than normal loads and outages, seasonally hot temperatures, and the potential for lower wind and solar,” the order reads.