Record Heat Wave Forces US Electrical Grid Into Crisis Mode

WHO:

ABC News - U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an Energy Emergency Alert.

ABC News - Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at the University of Houston, provided insights on the situation.

ABC News - Matthew Kakley, spokesperson for ISO-New England, commented on the expected challenges.

WHAT:

ABC News - U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated, "Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM service territory is non-negotiable."

ABC News - PJM is forecasting an electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006.

ABC News - ISO-New England anticipates its peak demand will be 25,850 megawatts on Thursday, which is below its record of 28,000 megawatts on August 2, 2006.

Gizmodo - The Department of Energy estimates there are more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation available nationwide, enough to power roughly 26 million homes.

Gizmodo - The Department of Energy issued an emergency order allowing PJM to require data centers and other large customers to use their own backup power to prevent blackouts.

Gizmodo - The Department of Energy estimates there are more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation available nationwide, enough to power roughly 26 million homes.

Gizmodo - PJM expected electricity demand to peak on July 2 at about 166,147 megawatts, which could surpass its all-time summer record from 2006.

ABC News - Heat indices are forecast to soar to 100 degrees in Chicago and Detroit, 110 in New York City, 112 in Philadelphia, 113 in Washington, D.C., and 111 in Nashville, Tennessee.

ABC News - PJM is forecasting an electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006.

ABC News - ISO-New England anticipates its peak demand will be 25,850 megawatts on Thursday, which is below its record of 28,000 megawatts on August 2, 2006.

ABC News - The U.S. Department of Energy declared an emergency affecting 160 million people in 30 states due to extreme temperatures.

ABC News - PJM is forecasting an electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006.

ABC News - The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is expecting electricity demand to approach record highs over the next few days.

ABC News - The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) could also break its record for peak demand.

ABC News - ISO-New England anticipates its peak demand will be 25,850 megawatts on Thursday, which is below its record of 28,000 megawatts on August 2, 2006.

ABC News - The U.S. Department of Energy declared an emergency to reduce blackouts due to a heat wave.

ABC News - PJM Interconnections is forecasting an electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006.

ABC News - ISO-New England anticipates a peak demand of 25,850 megawatts on Thursday, below its record of 28,000 megawatts on August 2, 2006.

Truthout - Data centers are straining electrical grids by needing the most energy when the grid has the least available.

WHERE:

ABC News - The emergency alert affects the PJM service territory, which supplies power to about 65 million customers in Washington, D.C., and parts of 13 states including Delaware, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

ABC News - ISO-New England provides power to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

WHEN:

ABC News - The emergency declaration went into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday and will run through 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

ABC News - The heat wave is expected to peak leading into the July 4th holiday.

WHY:

ABC News - Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at the University of Houston, said, "It's going to really strain the grid... peak demand that is going to be a record across different geographical areas."

Gizmodo - The emergency order was issued in anticipation of a heat wave that is expected to push the power grid to its limits as millions of people use air conditioning.

ABC News - The heat wave coincides with America's 250th birthday, leading to increased residential cooling demand as people stay home for the July 4th weekend.

ABC News - The heat wave is causing prolonged extreme heat across the East Coast, Midwest, and South, straining the electrical grid.

ABC News - The coinciding of the heat wave with the July 4th holiday is expected to significantly increase residential cooling demand.

HOW:

Gizmodo - The emergency order allows PJM to direct local utilities to order data centers and other large-load customers to use backup power only under specific emergency conditions.

ABC News - Some utilities may have to implement rolling blackouts in localized areas to relieve the stress on the grid.

ABC News - Utilities may have to implement rolling blackouts in localized areas to relieve stress on the grid due to the extreme heat.

ABC News - The Energy Emergency Alert directs PJM to conserve energy by curtailing power to data centers and non-emergency facilities that use a lot of electricity.

ABC News - Utilities may have to implement rolling blackouts in localized areas to relieve stress on the grid.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 06:11 UTC)

PJM is forecasting an electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006, prompting U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to emphasize that maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure power in the PJM service territory is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, ISO-New England expects its peak demand to reach 25,850 megawatts on the same day, still below its record of 28,000 megawatts from August 2, 2006. To manage this strain on the grid, an emergency order has been issued allowing PJM to direct local utilities to limit large-load customers, such as data centers, to using backup power only under specific emergency conditions.

(UPDATED July 3, 2026 01:28 UTC)

The Department of Energy has issued an emergency order allowing PJM to require data centers and other large customers to rely on their own backup power to prevent blackouts amid an anticipated heat wave. This order comes as PJM expects electricity demand to peak at about 166,147 megawatts, potentially breaking the all-time summer record set in 2006, with over 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation available nationwide, enough to power roughly 26 million homes. Under this emergency measure, PJM can direct local utilities to instruct large-load customers to utilize their backup power only during specific emergency conditions.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 15:44 UTC)

A significant heat wave is expected to hit major cities, with heat indices soaring to 100 degrees in Chicago and Detroit, 110 in New York City, and even higher temperatures in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Nashville. As people prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday during the July 4th weekend, PJM is forecasting a peak electricity demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, which would break a record set in 2006, while ISO-New England anticipates a peak demand of 25,850 megawatts, still below its record. To manage the strain on the power grid, some utilities may need to implement rolling blackouts in localized areas.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 08:05 UTC)

The U.S. Department of Energy has declared an emergency affecting 160 million people across 30 states due to extreme temperatures, coinciding with America's 250th birthday and leading to heightened demand for residential cooling as people prepare for the July 4th weekend. PJM is forecasting a record peak electricity demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, while the New York Independent System Operator and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator are also expecting to approach record highs. To manage the stress on the power grid, utilities may need to implement rolling blackouts in localized areas.

(UPDATED July 2, 2026 06:24 UTC)

The U.S. Department of Energy has declared an Energy Emergency Alert to address the strain on electrical grids caused by a heat wave, which is expected to peak leading into the July 4th holiday. PJM Interconnections forecasts a record electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday, while ISO-New England anticipates a peak demand of 25,850 megawatts, both highlighting the increased residential cooling demand during this extreme heat. The alert directs PJM to conserve energy by reducing power to data centers and non-emergency facilities, with utilities potentially implementing rolling blackouts in localized areas to alleviate grid stress.