Emergency measures have been enacted by the U.S. Department of Energy to address grid reliability concerns in the Mid-Atlantic region ahead of winter. On November 25, 2025, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order instructing PJM Interconnection, working with Constellation Energy, to keep Units 3 and 4 at Pennsylvania’s Eddystone Generating Station operational through February 24, 2026.
This action comes as part of efforts to reduce the risk of blackouts during the cold months and ensure energy remains affordable and reliable for consumers. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is using all tools available to keep the lights on and heat running for the American people,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “This emergency order is needed to strengthen grid reliability and will help provide affordable, reliable, and secure power when Americans need it most.”
The decision follows warnings from PJM Interconnection about ongoing resource adequacy issues due to a mismatch between retiring power plants and increased demand. In its February 2023 report, PJM pointed out that these challenges are expected to worsen in coming years as more older units retire while new generation resources may not come online quickly enough.
Further highlighting these concerns, PJM reported in December 2024 that its analysis indicated substantial increases in load additions and escalating resource adequacy problems at an “extraordinary pace.” The issue was also raised during a March 2025 congressional hearing where Manu Asthana, President & CEO of PJM Interconnection, testified about growing risks impacting a significant portion of the country.
Secretary Wright previously ordered Eddystone Units 3 and 4 to remain active past their planned retirement date in May 2025. During summer heat waves in June and July, these units played a key role in maintaining electricity supply across the region. PJM set a new record for winter demand in January 2025, surpassing levels seen since 2015.
According to DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report, if reliable power sources continue to be retired without adequate replacements, outages could become up to one hundred times more frequent by 2030.
The emergency order takes effect November 26, 2025.
