US Government Issues Emergency Order to Avert Blackouts, Data Centers Face Potential Power Rationing

The U.S. Department of Energy has enacted an emergency order aimed at preventing power outages amidst escalating energy demand. This directive, issued on Monday, has compelled PJM Interconnection, the electricity transmission operator for several U.S. regions, to instruct data centers and other major energy consumers to switch to backup power sources if necessary. Data centers have frequently been cited as a contributor to rising electricity prices and have negatively influenced public perception of AI, according to recent polls. The Energy Department also attributed the potential for blackouts to a "high rate of planned generator outages during the autumn maintenance season." The order is set to remain in effect until October 16. Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed confidence in the measure, stating, "This order will help ensure millions of American families and businesses across the mid-Atlantic have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including back-up power, available to use as needed." The Department of Energy indicated that the nation has 35 GW of available backup generation capacity. PJM issued a maximum generation alert for October 13 and 14, citing forecasts of above-normal temperatures across its service area and noting that further emergency procedures might be required based on system conditions. PJM clarified that this alert does not mandate any customer action. These warnings precede the U.S. midterm elections, where energy policy, AI, and data centers are prominent issues. Any power disruptions or inadequate responses could exacerbate tensions between residents, utility companies, and AI firms. Earlier, President Donald Trump, while dismissing AI critics as promoting "hoaxes," had in February sought to alleviate the grid strain from data centers by signing a non-binding pledge for technology and data center companies to provide their own electricity. Concurrently, the Department of Energy has advocated for increased construction of nuclear reactors to meet AI's energy demands.