The U. S.
Department of Energy issued an emergency power order on July 26 for 17 states.
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The order authorizes grid operator Southwest Power Pool to bring backup generators online as extreme heat drives electricity demand to dangerous levels.
The order remains in effect through August 3. It aims to avert rolling blackouts across a central and western territory serving 20 million people.
The region includes Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Texas. Temperatures in southern areas could top 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grid operator Southwest Power Pool requested the intervention after sudden losses in imported electricity on July 24 left the system with razor-thin operating reserves.
The emergency authorization permits the grid operator to dispatch specified units and tap into more than 35 gigawatts of available backup generation nationwide before declaring a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert.
"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," said U.
S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
Department of Energy data shows power outages cost the American economy approximately $44 billion annually.
The current heat wave has created significant operational challenges, as elevated overnight temperatures prevent electrical equipment from cooling down and recovering.
"A level three, is, you're getting to the point where you need to start considering curtailing," said Brandon Wittman, CEO of Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative.
Wittman noted that rolling blackouts are rare and require multiple compounding factors beyond extreme heat.
