In recent years, ensuring a reliable and sustainable electrical grid has become a top priority for U.S. energy policymakers. Aging electrical grid infrastructure and severe weather have exposed many areas of weakness in our grid that could potentially cause disruptions to our power supply and/or critical services. Federal and local stakeholders have been working together to implement both immediate fixes and long-term solutions to address the issues facing the nation’s electrical grid.
Challenges and vulnerabilities in the grid
Utilities in the Caribbean and Gulf Coast are still experiencing frequent outages and have an ongoing challenge to maintain their infrastructure as a result of damage from storms, changes in demand for electricity, and inadequate funding to build and maintain the electrical grid.
Reliable access to electricity is needed to perform a multitude of functions, including, but not limited to, residential housing, hospitals, businesses, and emergency services. The federal government has implemented several funding programs and planning initiatives to develop and implement grid modernization projects, which will reduce the risks associated with extreme weather events.
Federal investments into the repair of transmission lines, vegetation management, and providing technical assistance to national labs and federal agencies demonstrate the long-term commitment by the United States to improve the operational reliability and resiliency of the electrical grid.
On February 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy extended, for the second time, two emergency orders issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to assist in supporting the nation’s electric power systems during peak summer usage and prior to the approaching hurricane season. The renewed directives allow the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to have the authority to dispatch sufficient generating resources to ensure that there will be available, adequate critical generation capability, and to clear vegetation surrounding the transmission lines to prevent potential outages.
Emergency orders and immediate impacts
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that these emergency orders will “ensure that the essential work continues,” “address the most urgent reliability concerns,” and enable the grid to “withstand additional loads and extreme weather-related impacts.”
According to the Department of Energy, its emergency actions have allowed Puerto Rican authorities to restore up to 820 megawatts of base-load generating capacity. This has enabled approximately 6,460 megawatts of total generating capacity to operate and permitted some facilities to function without water injection during a regional water shortage.
DOE officials and local partners emphasize that the emergency orders are part of a larger effort to create a more resilient and reliable power system. While the emergency authority provides short-term flexibility to respond to immediate threats, continued investment in the grid, modernization, and long-term resilience planning represent the primary objectives of this collaboration.
Long-term modernization and resilience strategy
Emergency actions by the DOE to improve grid resilience are intended as short-term measures in response to the recent severe weather; however, advocates for these emergency measures argue that this is a necessary short-term measure to reduce the risk to the reliability of the electric system. The emergency orders provide additional flexibility for resource dispatch and maintenance activities, which could potentially reduce the number of widespread power outages; therefore, enhance energy security during high-demand periods.
Emergency measures are simply an aspect of long-term strategies to increase the resiliency of the grid. Advocates contend that addressing the vulnerability of the grid through both short- and long-term strategies, including emergency preparedness measures and investments to modernize the grid, will better prepare the grid for potential future challenges.
The Department of Energy has issued its renewed emergency orders to ensure a more resilient electrical grid capable of withstanding extreme weather. In addition to establishing a more resilient electrical grid, the DOE’s emergency measures provide the American people with continued access to reliable and affordable electricity, thereby protecting communities and supporting economic growth. These initiatives represent a significant step toward increasing the Nation’s energy security.
