13 states and D.C. are under a federal power grid emergency. The Department of Energy is letting plants run past their pollution limits to keep the lights on. Here’s what it means for you

waiting to see whether conditions ease.
What officials are saying

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the 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 generation, including backup power, available as needed. He added that the DOE is committed to using “every available tool to prevent blackouts.”