Under Federal Power Act (FPA) section 202(c), during the continuance of a war in which the United States is engaged or when an emergency exists by reason of a sudden increase in the demand for electric energy, or a shortage of electric energy, or of facilities for the generation or transmission of electric energy, or of the fuel or water for generating facilities, or other causes, the Secretary of Energy may require by order temporary connections of facilities, and generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electricity as the Secretary determines will best meet the emergency and serve the public interest. 16 U.S.C. § 824a(c).

All public comments and requests related to FPA section 202(c) should be sent via email to AskCR@hq.doe.gov. Information that the sender deems sensitive and not eligible for public release should be marked accordingly, and both a public (redacted) and non-public version of such materials should be submitted. Additional information about 202(c) procedures, if necessary, will be announced on this page.

The provision of this process for submission of correspondence or comments on any pending application is for purposes of ensuring the receipt by the appropriate office and personnel within the Department. Establishment of this email address does not establish a “docket,” and those submitting correspondence do not constitute parties or intervenors to any proceeding. Further, submission of correspondence to the Department does not in any way limit or prevent the ability of the Secretary to act on any application, or pursuant to section 202(c) without application, in any way and at any time as he or she deems appropriate.

DOE 202(c) Emergency Orders 2020-present:

  • On September 7, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order, pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), authorizing specific electric generating units (specified resources) located within the ERCOT area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to ongoing extreme weather conditions and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system. The order is in effect until 21:00 CDT on September 8, 2023.
  • On December 24, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order, pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) authorizing specific electric generating units (specified resources) located within the PJM area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to ongoing extreme weather conditions and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system. The order is in effect until Monday, December 26, 2022, at 12 p.m. EST.
  • On December 23, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order, pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), authorizing specific electric generating units (resource list) located within the ERCOT area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to ongoing extreme weather conditions and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system. The order is in effect until December 25, 2022, at 10 a.m. CST.
  • On September 8, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an extension, with modification, of an emergency order pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act granted to the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), originally issued on September 4, 2022. The order is in effect until September 11, 2022.
  • On September 8, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an extension of an emergency order pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act granted to the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO), originally issued September 2, 2022. The order is in effect until September 12, 2022.
  • On September 7, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a modification of an emergency order pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act granted to the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) on September 4, 2022. The modification added as Covered Resources two units at Calpine’s Greenleaf Unit 1 site at Yuba City, California (the Greenleaf Units), both aero-derivative gas turbine generators with a nameplate capacity of approximately 30 MW, and allows the Greenleaf Units to run through September 11, 2022.
  • On September 4, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order, pursuant to section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, to the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), authorizing specific electric generating resources to operate when directed, under specified conditions, to prevent or mitigate potential power disruptions and provide relief to the bulk power system during stressed grid conditions caused by extreme heat. The order is in effect until September 8, 2022.
  • On September 2, 2022, the Department of Energy issued a 202(c) emergency order pursuant to the Federal Power Act to California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) authorizing specific electric generating units located within its service territory to operate at their maximum generation output levels in order to preserve the reliability of the bulk electric power system due to extreme heat causing a diminished ability to generate enough power to meet higher than usual electricity demand. The order is in effect until September 8, 2022.
  • On September 10, 2021, the DOE issued a 202(c) emergency order pursuant to the Federal Power Act to the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) authorizing specific electric generating units located within its service territory to operate at their maximum generation output levels in order to preserve the reliability of the bulk electric power system due to ongoing wildfires, extreme heat, and droughts causing a diminished ability to generate hydropower resulting in higher than usual electricity demand.
  • On February 14, 2021, a 202(c) emergency order was issued to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) authorizing specific electric generating units (resource list) located within the ERCOT area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to ongoing extreme weather conditions and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system
  • On September 6, 2020, a 202(c) emergency order was issued to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) authorizing specific electric generating units located within the CAISO balancing authority area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to an ongoing “Extreme Heat Event” and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system.
  • On August 27, 2020, a 202(c) emergency order was issued authorizing and directing CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CEHE) to operate an existing, permanent tie-line to assist in electricity restoration of power to Entergy Texas, Inc. and electric cooperatives and municipal customers within the State of Texas as a result of Hurricane Laura making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border.

View DOE 202(c) emergency orders issued prior to 2020.