TL;DR: The U.S. Secretary of Energy issued a Section 202(c) emergency order letting PJM and Talen Energy run Wagner Unit 4 in Maryland past its operating limit from August 20 through November 17, 2026, while PJM issued a Hot Weather Alert for August 9–11.
Federal action to support electricity supply in the mid-Atlantic advanced on two tracks heading into the weekend of August 7, 2026: an emergency authorization to keep a Maryland generating unit available for high-demand periods, and a routine hot-weather readiness alert for August 9–11.
According to the Department of Energy announcement titled Energy Secretary Acts to Protect Mid-Atlantic Grid, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order authorized by Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to reduce the risk of power outages and strengthen grid reliability across the mid-Atlantic region.
That Department of Energy announcement states that the emergency order permits PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM), in coordination with the Talen Energy Corporation, to run Unit 4 at the Wagner Generating Station in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to meet anticipated electricity demand.
The same announcement states that the emergency order strengthens grid reliability and minimizes the risk of energy shortfalls in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
What the Wagner Unit 4 order authorizes
The Department of Energy announcement states that PJM requested the order to continue operating Wagner Unit 4 beyond its current operating limit.
PJM told the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) it expects to continue needing the unit during periods of high electricity demand to maintain reliable grid operations, according to that announcement.
Secretary Wright previously granted PJM's requests to operate Wagner Unit 4 beyond its operating limit to help maintain grid reliability, the announcement states.
PJM relied on Wagner Unit 4 during periods of unusually high temperatures earlier this summer, using the unit's remaining operating hours, according to the announcement.
PJM has since indicated to DOE that it continues to need Wagner Unit 4 to meet high electricity demand and help prevent power outages, the announcement states.
The announcement lists the order as effective from August 20, 2026, through November 17, 2026.
In the announcement, Secretary Wright said:
“Energy shortfalls for 65 million Americans are simply unacceptable.”
The announcement also quotes Secretary Wright saying previous orders in the mid-Atlantic region have helped keep the lights on and expressing confidence this order will help do so in the coming months as well.
The announcement further quotes the Secretary saying the order helps temporarily address the urgent need to strengthen grid reliability and ensure Americans across the mid-Atlantic region have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy regardless of whether the sun shines or wind blows.
For households, the practical meaning described in the announcement is continuity of an existing reliability resource during anticipated high-demand periods, rather than addition of a new power station.
The announcement identifies the parties for coordination as PJM and Talen Energy Corporation for operation of Unit 4 at the Wagner Generating Station.
The announcement identifies the location of that station as Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Hot Weather Alert covers August 9–11
Separately, PJM issued a Hot Weather Alert for August 9–11 for the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions ahead of expected hot weather, according to the American Public Power Association article titled PJM Issues Hot Weather Alert for Aug. 9–11 for Mid-Atlantic and Southern Regions.
That article, written by Paul Ciampoli and dated August 7, 2026, describes the alert as covering the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions.
A Hot Weather Alert is a routine procedure PJM issues ahead of forecasted hot weather and/or high humidity to prepare transmission and generation staff and facilities for expected increases in electricity demand, or load, according to that article.
The procedure described in that article is directed at preparation by transmission and generation staff and facilities.
This procedure does not require any action from customers, according to that article.
Temperatures are expected to approach or exceed 90 degrees with high humidity across the Eastern portion of the PJM footprint, driving increased electricity demand in those areas, according to that article.
That temperature and humidity expectation is the weather driver identified for the August 9–11 alert period.
Forecasted peak loads for August 9, 10 and 11
PJM is expecting to serve approximate peak loads on each day of the alert period, according to the American Public Power Association article.
For August 9, the forecasted peak load is 136,029 MW, according to that article.
For August 10, the forecasted peak load is 146,541 MW, according to that article.
For August 11, the forecasted peak load is 144,018 MW, according to that article.
Those numbers were official at 4:30 p.m. on August 6, 2026, according to that article.
They are subject to change and will be updated periodically, according to that article.
The three-day sequence shows the highest forecasted peak on August 10, followed by August 11, then August 9, based on the figures stated in that article.
Households following daily grid conditions can compare later updates against those three stated baselines for August 9, August 10 and August 11.
The article does not state customer curtailments, voltage reductions or load shedding for the August 9–11 period.
Which utility areas are included
The American Public Power Association article defines the Mid-Atlantic Region for this alert as Atlantic City Electric; Baltimore Gas and Electric; Delmarva Power & Light; Jersey Central Power & Light; Met-Ed; Penelec; PECO Energy; Pepco; PPL Electric Utilities; PSE&G; and Orange and Rockland (Rockland Electric Co).
The article defines PJM's Southern Region for this alert as the Dominion transmission zone.
Those two regional definitions together describe the geographic scope of the August 9–11 Hot Weather Alert reported in that article.
Residents served by Atlantic City Electric are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Baltimore Gas and Electric are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Delmarva Power & Light are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Jersey Central Power & Light are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Met-Ed are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Penelec are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by PECO Energy are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Pepco are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by PPL Electric Utilities are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by PSE&G are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
Residents served by Orange and Rockland (Rockland Electric Co) are included in the Mid-Atlantic Region definition stated in that article.
The Dominion transmission zone is the stated composition of the Southern Region for this alert.
How PJM says it manages supply and demand
The American Public Power Association article quotes PJM saying a dedicated team of operators uses sophisticated technology to balance supply and demand and direct the power grid 24/7 from PJM's control rooms.
The same passage states that they prepare multiple potential scenarios that could be impacted by weather, emergency conditions or equipment failure.
They adjust resource output with changes in demand and ensure that no transmission lines or facilities are overloaded, according to that article.
The team also watches for unusual conditions and reacts to them to protect the electricity supply, according to that article.
That description applies to ongoing grid direction from PJM's control rooms, as quoted in that article.
For household readiness, the relevant distinction in that article is between operator preparation of staff, facilities and resources and customer action, with the article stating the alert procedure does not require any action from customers.
What to watch next on reliability
The Department of Energy announcement frames the Wagner Unit 4 authorization as temporary action to support reliability during anticipated electricity demand.
The stated need from PJM, as reported in that announcement, is continued availability of Wagner Unit 4 during periods of high electricity demand to maintain reliable grid operations and help prevent power outages.
The stated duration in that announcement runs from August 20, 2026, through November 17, 2026.
The near-term demand test described in the American Public Power Association article is the August 9–11 period of expected heat and humidity across the Eastern portion of the PJM footprint, with forecasted peaks of 136,029 MW, 146,541 MW and 144,018 MW.
Households in the listed Mid-Atlantic utilities and the Dominion transmission zone are within the regions named for that August 9–11 alert, according to that article.
Both developments point to the same household planning theme for August: high temperatures earlier this summer had already used the unit's remaining operating hours, PJM continues to cite high-demand need, and forecasters anticipate another warm, humid stretch with elevated load, according to the two announcements.