PJM Emergency Operations Tracker

This tracker consolidates EPG Solutions coverage of PJM summer reliability events and emergency operations. It follows peak-load conditions, reserve actions, demand response, DOE Section 202(c) orders and potential large-load curtailment.

Last reviewed: August 24, 2026
Coverage through: August 23, 2026

What this tracker covers

• PJM hot-weather and capacity advisories
• Peak-load records and reserve conditions
• Emergency demand response and backup generation
• DOE Section 202(c) orders and curtailment authority

Grid Pulse coverage timeline

1. Grid Pulse | May 30, 2026 — DOE Emergency Order Holds Michigan Coal Plant Online as MISO Faces Elevated Summer Reserve Risk
   DOE Order 202-26-22 keeps Michigan's J.H. Campbell plant available through August 16 as MISO manages elevated summer reserve-shortfall risk.
2. Grid Pulse | June 5, 2026 — DOE Commits $850 Million to the Coal Fleet in a Single-Day Push
   DOE announced up to $500 million for 13 coal plants and export infrastructure, another $350 million for modernization, and a Florida emergency order.
3. Grid Pulse | June 15, 2026 — PJM Fires a Hot Weather Alert for Its Western Region as Summer Demand Ramps
   PJM's June 14–15 Hot Weather Alert prepares Western-region crews and generation for 90-degree heat, humidity and rising demand; it is not an emergency.
4. Grid Pulse | June 16, 2026 — NERC Flags MISO and PJM at Elevated Summer Risk Despite Record Resource Additions
   NERC's 2026 summer assessment flags MISO, PJM and WECC-Basin for elevated reserve-shortfall risk despite record solar, storage and gas additions.
5. Grid Pulse | June 26, 2026 — PJM Activates New Capacity Advisory and Backup Generator Emergency Procedures
   PJM's revised Manual 13 adds a five-day Capacity Advisory and a last-resort process to seek DOE approval for emergency use of on-site backup generators.
6. Grid Pulse | July 1, 2026 — DOE Orders PJM to Dispatch Reserves Ahead of Record Summer Peak
   DOE issued two Section 202(c) emergency orders for PJM ahead of a record summer peak, covering specified generation and backup resources through July 3.
7. Grid Pulse | July 2, 2026 — PJM Could Break Its All-Time Peak Today as DOE Emergency Orders Put Data Center Curtailment on the Table
   PJM forecast a 166,304 MW peak for July 2 as DOE Section 202(c) orders enabled reserve dispatch and last-resort curtailment of eligible data centers.
8. Grid Pulse | July 3, 2026 — PJM Pushes Toward All-Time Peak Record as DOE Emergency Orders Target Large Loads
   PJM entered the July 4 holiday under peak alerts and DOE Section 202(c) orders, including authority to curtail large loads before shedding firm load.
9. Grid Pulse | July 4, 2026 — PJM Likely Shattered Its All-Time Peak Record and Nearly Curtailed Data Centers
   PJM likely exceeded its prior 165,600 MW demand record on July 2, using emergency demand response while a DOE order authorized data center curtailment.
10. Grid Pulse | July 5, 2026 — PJM Likely Broke Its 20-Year Peak Record as DOE Data Center Curtailment Order Runs Through July 6
    PJM's July 2 peak likely topped its 20-year record while DOE Section 202(c) authority to shift eligible data centers to backup generation ran through July 6.
11. Grid Pulse | July 6, 2026 — PJM Likely Broke Its 20-Year Peak Record, and DOE Emergency Orders Are Still Active
    PJM's July 2 peak likely set a record despite about 6,000 MW of demand response, while extended DOE emergency orders remained active July 6 and 7.
12. Grid Pulse | July 7, 2026 — DOE Emergency Orders Put Data Center Curtailment on the Table as PJM Chased a 20-Year-Old Peak Record
    Review how two DOE Section 202(c) orders supported PJM during the July heat wave, including last-resort curtailment of data centers with backup generation.
13. Grid Pulse | July 11, 2026 — PJM Confirms All-Time Peak Load: 168,158 MW Through Record July Heat
    PJM confirmed a record 168,158 MW peak on July 2, 2026, after emergency demand response and two DOE Section 202(c) orders during extreme heat.

August 2026 updates

1. Grid Pulse | August 23, 2026 — PJM Files Its Answer to FERC's Large Load Show Cause Order
   PJM's filing addressed how new data centers and other large loads could be connected under its proposed framework.
2. Grid Pulse | August 21, 2026 — DOE Orders Wagner Unit 4 Back Online Through November
   DOE Order No. 202-26-25A authorized PJM, with Talen Energy, to operate Wagner Unit 4 through November.

Related Grid Pulse trackers

• Computational Load Reliability Tracker
• Large-Load & RTO Tariff Tracker

For utility-specific support, contact EPG Solutions.