Energy Department Extends Emergency Order to Strengthen Grid Security in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON—The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the extension of the emergency orders that are strengthening Puerto Rico’s electric grid. The orders, issued in May, have empowered Puerto Rico’s government to conduct commonsense fixes to restore the fragile grid and put Puerto Rico on track for sustained energy resilience. Extending the orders will ensure this critical work can continue throughout the peak summer demand season. 

“A reliable and secure power grid is essential for modern life, and the residents of Puerto Rico deserve solutions now. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are able to take action, moving from years of instability toward measurable, lasting progress,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “By extending these orders, DOE is ensuring critical work continues, urgent energy reliability needs are addressed, and the grid is more prepared to withstand the most demanding stretch of hurricane season for the 3.2 million Americans who call Puerto Rico home.” 

“I thank Secretary Wright and strongly support the Department of Energy’s extension of the 202(c) emergency orders for Puerto Rico, which have provided needed flexibilities to maintain sufficient power generation capacity and conduct vegetation control activities along critical transmission lines. The Trump Administration’s close collaboration and commitment to stabilize and rebuild our power grid has been unprecedented and is already yielding results,” said Puerto RicoGovernor Jenniffer González-Colón.  “I look forward to building on this momentum and continue partnering with President Trump and Secretary Wright as we strengthen Puerto Rico’s electrical system and ensure an affordable, reliable, and secure supply of energy for the island’s 3.2 million Americans.”  

Decades of deferred maintenance, insufficient investment, the bankruptcy of the system owner, and devasting hurricanes and earthquakes have significantly deteriorated the Puerto Rican electric grid. As a result, full recovery will take years, but critical work is underway to improve grid reliability and resilience.

As Puerto Rico prepares for what has historically been the more intense part of hurricane season, DOE is extending two previously issued 202(c) orders. The first emergency order extension directs the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to continue dispatching generation units necessary to maintain grid reliability and close the gap in generation capacity. The second order extension directs PREPA to continue performing vegetation management activities. These extension orders are in effect beginning on August 15, 2025, and continues through November 12, 2025.  

Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department’s continued swift action is strengthening critical infrastructure and ensuring the American people have access to reliable, affordable, and secure energy. DOE will continue working with Governor González-Colón and all stakeholders to address Puerto Rico’s energy challenges by strengthening and stabilizing Puerto Rico’s electric grid.  

Background

On May 16, 2025, DOE issued two emergency orders, pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to PREPA. The first order authorized PREPA to operate specified generation units under certain circumstances for a 90-day period. The second order directed PREPA to perform vegetation control activities to ensure the operational availability of certain transmission lines and reduce the number of vegetation-induced faults.