Energy Department Orders PJM To Dispatch Units, Backup Power Through Mid-October

What happened: The U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency Order No. 202-26-50 directing PJM Interconnection to dispatch specified generating units and backup generation to maintain reliability. Key numbers: Order runs Oct. 13 through Oct. 16. PJM forecast demand at or around 111,500 MW for Oct. Why it matters: Secretary of Energy Chris Wright cited a statutory emergency and said the order keeps power affordable and reliable. A D.C. Circuit panel in September vacated a similar order for a Michigan coal plant, finding the department exceeded its authority.

The U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency Order No. 202-26-50 directing PJM Interconnection to dispatch specified generating units and backup generation to maintain reliability.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright cited a statutory emergency and said the order keeps power affordable and reliable. A D.C. Circuit panel in September vacated a similar order for a Michigan coal plant, finding the department exceeded its authority.