Energy Secretary Secures Carolinas' Grid Ahead of Period of Hot Weather

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued an emergency order to mitigate blackouts in the Carolinas' ahead of a period of hot weather. Issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the order authorizes Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC ("DEC") and Duke Energy Progress, LLC ("DEP") (collectively, "Duke Energy") to operate specified units located within Duke Energy's service territory to operate up to their maximum generation output levels, notwithstanding air quality or other permit limitations arising under federal, state, or local law or regulation, or other applicable source of law. The order was issued subsequent to Duke Energy's application. The order will mitigate the risk of unnecessary blackouts brought on by unusually high load forecasts and high temperatures across the region.

"Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the Duke Energy service territory is non-negotiable," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. "The previous administration's energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during events like this. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool ensuring Americans in the Carolinas' have continued access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power and cool their homes."

On day one, President Trump declared a national energy emergency after the Biden administration's energy subtraction agenda left behind a grid increasingly vulnerable to blackouts.

The order is in effect beginning at 4:00 PM ET on June 11, 2026, and shall expire at 10:00 PM ET on June 12, 2026.

Background:

Duke Energy stated that some generating units are limited in providing needed generation because of conditions and limitations in their environmental permits. As a result, the system "may not have sufficient generation available to meet this unusually high demand and [Duke Energy] may be forced to curtail load in order to maintain security and reliability of the grid." Therefore, Duke Energy requested that DOE issue a Section 202(c) order.

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