US Declares Power Grid Emergency in 13 States Amid Rising Demand

The United States has declared a power grid emergency in 13 states, including parts of Delaware, Illinois, and Virginia, due to rising electricity demand. Energy Secretary Chris Wright authorized PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, to use emergency powers to ensure grid stability. The directive, effective from October 13 to 16, allows PJM to require specific generators to produce electricity and access backup power from data centers. The emergency was triggered by unseasonably warm temperatures and planned maintenance on critical infrastructure, with demand projected to reach 111,500 megawatts. Residents are advised that the emergency does not mean planned outages, but they may be asked to voluntarily reduce electricity use during peak times.