Secretary Wright issues emergency order to stabilize the Carolinas’ grid, save lives, and lower costs following Winter Storm Fern
WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued an emergency order to mitigate blackouts in North and South Carolina following Winter Storm Fern. Issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, the order authorizes Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and Duke Energy Progress (collectively, Duke Energy) to run specified resources located within the Duke Region, regardless of limits established by environmental permits or state law. The order will help Duke respond to extreme temperatures and storm damage across the Carolinas and reduce costs for Americans due to the winter storm.
“Winter Storm Fern continues to bring extreme cold and dangerous conditions across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the Duke region is non-negotiable. The previous administration’s energy subtraction policies weakened the grid, leaving Americans more vulnerable during events like Winter Storm Fern. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are reversing those failures and using every available tool to keep the lights on and Americans safe following this storm.”
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. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), “Winter electricity demand is rising at the fastest rate in recent years,” while the premature forced closure of reliable generation such as coal and natural gas plants leaves American families vulnerable to power outages. The NERC 2025 – 2026 Winter Reliability Assessment further warns that areas across the continental United States have an elevated risk of blackouts during extreme weather conditions.
Power outages cost the American people $44 billion per year, according to data from DOE’s National Laboratories. This order will help mitigate power outages in the Carolinas and highlights the commonsense policies of the Trump Administration to ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity.
The order is in effect from January 27-January 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND
Orders such as this are in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order: Declaring a National Energy Emergency and will ensure the availability of generation needed to meet high electricity demand and minimize the risk of blackouts.