The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an emergency order authorizing the deployment of backup generation resources to mitigate blackouts during Winter Storm Fern in Texas. The order, issued pursuant to Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, enables the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to deploy such resources at data centers and other critical facilities.
The directive follows a letter sent by Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Thursday to grid operators requesting readiness for backup generation to address potential blackouts. DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation remains available nationwide.
President Trump declared a national energy emergency on day one, citing that the previous administration’s energy policies left the power grid increasingly vulnerable to disruptions. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), winter electricity demand is rising at the fastest rate in recent years, while premature forced outages of reliable generation sources such as coal and natural gas plants have left many families exposed to power interruptions.
The NERC 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment warns that areas across the continental United States face an elevated risk of blackouts during extreme weather conditions. Power outages in the U.S. cost consumers approximately $44 billion annually, according to DOE National Laboratories data.
The emergency order is effective from January 24 through January 27, 2026. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated: “The Trump administration is committed to unleashing all available power generation needed to keep Americans safe during Winter Storm Fern.”
Reports indicate that as of 2 p.m., over 21,000 Texas Oncor customers were without power, with the majority in East Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex experienced minimal outages, though approximately 3,000 customers across the region lost electricity.
Oncor activated storm-readiness operations ahead of the event, expanding response teams to address outages. The company highlighted concerns about ice-coated branches that could snap under freezing conditions, potentially adding significant weight to power lines.
Officials urged residents to monitor weather alerts and sign up for personalized outage notifications through Oncor’s MyOncor service. They also recommended preparing emergency kits and family safety plans in anticipation of extended outages.
The wintry mix is expected to taper off by Sunday, with extreme cold lingering through Tuesday.
