January 24 and 25, 2026, DOE 202(c) Orders

Customer-Owned Backup Generator Order (Order No. 202-26-01A)

On January 24, 2026, ERCOT requested that the U.S. Secretary of Energy issue an order that would authorize ERCOT, as the Reliability Coordinator and Balancing Authority for the ERCOT interconnection, to direct certain customer-owned backup generator facilities to operate under certain emergency conditions. Because the expected impact of Winter Storm Fern on electric demand raises a significant risk of emergency conditions that could jeopardize electric reliability and public safety, ERCOT submitted the request in response to the January 22, 2026, letter from the Secretary of Energy announcing that such orders would be provided with respect to backup generation facilities.

The Secretary of Energy granted ERCOT’s request and issued an order the same day, followed by an amended order on January 25, 2026. The amended order allows ERCOT to direct certain customer-owned backup generators to operate after ERCOT deploys all available market services, except for frequency responsive services, before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) level 3 or during an EEA level 3, even if such operation would exceed federal environmental permit limits. If ERCOT issues a directive pursuant to this order, ERCOT will directly contact entities subject to the directive. The order is effective until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on January 27, 2026.

Generation Resource Order (Order No. 202-26-04)
On January 25, 2026, ERCOT requested that the U.S. Secretary of Energy issue a separate order that would allow generating units in the ERCOT Region to operate in excess of their federal environmental permit limits so that these units could provide maximum output during the ongoing winter weather event. The order was requested due to the expected impact of Winter Storm Fern on electric demand, which raises a significant risk of emergency conditions that could jeopardize electric reliability and public safety.

The Secretary of Energy granted ERCOT’s request and issued the second order the same day. The order allows certain identified units to exceed permitted limitations only under certain circumstances. The Order is effective until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on January 27, 2026.