Energy Department Intervenes to Ensure Grid Stability in Mid-Atlantic Amid Reliability Concerns

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order directing PJM Interconnection (PJM), in coordination with Constellation Energy, to keep Units 3 and 4 of the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania available for operation through November 26, 2025.

The order is intended to minimize the risk of energy shortfalls in the Mid-Atlantic region, where rising demand and the accelerated retirement of existing power plants are straining grid reliability.

“With unprecedented energy demand and resource retirements outpacing new generation additions, the country is facing an energy emergency,” Secretary Wright said. “Today’s order proves that the Trump Administration is dedicated to confronting this critical issue. This administration considers power outages and soaring energy costs to be unacceptable.”

Addressing Reliability Risks

The Department of Energy (DOE) first ordered the two Eddystone units to remain online in May 2025, despite their planned retirement, citing reliability risks. Over the past three months, the units were dispatched during June and July heat waves to maintain electricity supply in the PJM region, underscoring their role in grid stability.

DOE’s Grid Reliability Evaluation warns that U.S. power outages could increase by 100 times by 2030 if reliable generation continues to be taken offline without sufficient replacement capacity.

PJM’s Ongoing Warnings

PJM, which operates the nation’s largest electricity market, has repeatedly raised concerns about resource adequacy.

• In a February 2023 report, PJM highlighted risks stemming from the mismatch between power plant retirements, rising load growth, and slower-than-expected new generation entry.
• In a December 2024 filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), PJM reported “substantial increases” in projected load additions, warning that its resource adequacy concerns were “increasing at an extraordinary pace.”
• During a March 2025 hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, PJM President & CEO testified that the U.S. faces “a growing resource adequacy concern impacting a significant part of our country.”

Order Duration

The new emergency order takes effect immediately and will remain in place until November 26, 2025, unless further extended.