In a major development, the US Department of Energy has officially declared a power grid emergency across 13 states and the District of Columbia. This emergency action has been taken to protect the electricity system and stop massive blackouts that could affect more than 60 million people.
The sudden emergency was declared due to unseasonably warm weather and extremely high demand for electricity. The regions power network operator, PJM Interconnection, faced a severe shortage of electricity supply. Officials warned that without immediate help, power companies would have been forced to cut electricity supply to homes and offices to keep the main grid running safely.
To solve this crisis, the US government issued a special legal order. This order allows power companies to run backup power plants, bring extra generators online, and tap into battery reserves from large facilities like data centers. Authorities clarified that this order does not mean power cuts are starting right away instead, it gives companies extra tools to keep electricity flowing without interruption. The government is closely monitoring the situation as power plants work continuously to keep lights on and avoid a major power collapse across the region.
