The U.S. Department of Energy has extended an emergency order for New England as another major winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures over the weekend and into early next week. The order, issued under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, allows ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) to operate certain power resources regardless of environmental permit or state law restrictions.
ISO-NE requested this extension because emergency conditions are expected to last beyond the initial timeframe set by the original order on January 25, 2026.
“This winter storm demonstrates why the Trump Administration continues to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction agenda of the previous administration,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Those policies weakened the grid and left Americans more vulnerable to blackouts and higher electricity prices. We are doing everything in our power to reverse those reckless decisions. The Trump Administration is committed to using every available tool, and unleashing all available power generation, to keep the lights on and Americans safe.”
President Trump declared a national energy emergency at the start of his term, citing concerns about grid vulnerability due to earlier policies that led to premature closures of coal and natural gas plants. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has reported that winter electricity demand is rising quickly in recent years and that some areas across the continental United States face increased blackout risks during extreme weather events.
The Department of Energy’s National Laboratories estimate that annual power outages cost Americans $44 billion. Officials say this emergency order aims not only to reduce outages in New England but also serves as part of broader efforts by current administration policies designed for affordable and reliable electricity supply.
The current emergency order remains effective until 11:59 PM ET on February 14, 2026. These actions follow President Trump’s executive directive declaring a national energy emergency with a focus on ensuring adequate generation capacity and minimizing blackout risks.
