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US DOE Issues Emergency Orders to Cut Blackout Risk During Heatwave

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The US Department of Energy issued two emergency orders on Tuesday to reduce the risk of blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic with forecasts for record-breaking peak loads during what an expected spell of hot weather in the region.

The first order directs regional transmission organization PJM Interconnection to dispatch and operate certain generation units as required to maintain reliability, according to a DOE statement.

The second order allows PJM to work with transmission owners and electric distribution companies to use backup power as a last resort before or during energy emergency alert 3, the highest level of emergency declared by grid operators.

As per the DOE projections, over 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation remains available across the US.

The orders were issued following requests from PJM on June 27 and 29.

In its letter to the Department of Energy on June 27, PJM warned that it might need to use emergency authorization powers during the forecast hot weather in parts of the region it serves between June 29 and July 3.

PJM projected potential new peak record demand for July 2, and expects demand on July 1 and July 2 to exceed last year's peak levels.

PJM expects tight power reserves during peak demand of about 159,563 megawatts on July 1 and about 162,860 MW on July 2. It added that these forecasts are preliminary and could rise if temperatures increase.

The US National Weather Service early Wednesday said a majority of the central and eastern US is expected to experience the intensification of dangerous, record-breaking heat this week, with heat value indices likely to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The orders will remain in place until end of July 3, the DOE statement said.

PJM manages and plans the electricity grid that serves over 67 million customers across 13 states and Washington, DC.

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