The U.S. Department of Energy renewed two emergency orders on August 10, 2026, authorizing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to operate essential power generation units and clear vegetation along electrical infrastructure during the 2026 hurricane season.
As reported by the US Department of Energy, the emergency actions build on prior orders issued in 2025 and 2026 to manage rising electricity demand and prevent blackouts. The decision allows the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, known as PREPA, to dispatch critical generation units to maintain capacity during unforeseen conditions. The measures also address tree limbs and brush near power lines, which can break during storms and high winds, damaging transmission systems and triggering power outages or wildfires.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón noted that Section 202(c) authorities under the Federal Power Act helped restore or refurbish close to 1,600 megawatts of generation capacity over the past 19 months. In that same timeframe, the number of approved federal vegetation clearing projects on the island rose from 5 to 33, enabling crew access to reestablish rights-of-way along power lines.
The renewed emergency orders take effect on August 10, 2026, and run through November 7, 2026. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated that the renewals maintain progress on grid modernization, crediting partnership with President Trump for advancing work across the island. Federal officials indicated that the department will continue coordinating with Governor González-Colón and local authorities to serve Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million American citizens.
