PJM continues to take proactive measures to maintain reliable operations as this week’s extreme heat pushes electricity demand to near record levels.
A Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert is currently in effect for July 2 and has been issued for July 3 for the PJM footprint. This alert does not require any action from customers.
A Maximum Generation Alert is targeted at transmission/generation owners, who then determine if any maintenance or testing on equipment can be deferred or canceled. By deferring maintenance, the units stay online and continue to produce energy that is needed to serve electricity demand within the PJM region. This alert is also used to notify neighboring systems that electricity exports from PJM may be curtailed, serving as a procedural step that allows those neighboring regions to plan accordingly.
PJM issues this alert at the same time as a Load Management Alert, which gives advance notification that load management action may be declared, including Pre-Emergency and Emergency Demand Response. Demand Response programs pay customers in advance who sign up to allow reduction of their electricity use in emergencies.
PJM activated its Pre-Emergency Demand Response customers across PJM the afternoon of July 2 to increase reserves on the system for the evening peak.
A Hot Weather Alert remains in effect for the entire region PJM serves through at least July 4. A Hot Weather Alert is an established procedure PJM issues ahead of forecasted hot weather and/or high humidity to prepare transmission and generation personnel and facilities for expected increases in electricity demand, or load.
Preliminary and Forecasted Peaks
PJM served a preliminary hourly integrated peak of 161,910 MW on July 1. As of 1 p.m. on July 2, 2026, PJM expects to serve a peak load of 166,241 MW, which would exceed PJM’s existing record summer hourly integrated peak of 165,563 MW, which was set in 2006. However, calling for Demand Response resources could ultimately suppress preliminary peak load totals.
As of 1 p.m. on July 2, 2026, PJM expects to serve the following peak loads through July 5:
| Date | Forecasted Peak Load |
| July 2 | 166,241 MW |
| July 3 | 157,979 MW |
| July 4 | 148,647 MW |
| July 5 | 140,164 MW |
Additional Actions
PJM has also taken the following actions to prepare for the extreme heat and humidity:
- PJM issued a Maintenance Outage Recall on June 25 ahead of the week’s forecasted hot weather. The recall requests for all maintenance outages to be returned to service by today to increase the amount of generation available to meet customer demand.
- PJM requested and received approval of an emergency 202c order by the U.S. Department of Energy to direct transmission owners, if required as a last resort prior to voltage reduction or load shed, to curtail data centers and other large loads that have backup generation.
- PJM has also submitted and received approval of a DOE 202c emergency order for temporary relief from environmental permit restrictions for generating units, effective July 1 through July 3. PJM on July 2 asked the DOE to extend the order through July 6.