Why did the U.S. Department of Energy issue an emergency order to keep Craig Station Unit 1 operational through summer 2026?

The U.S. Department of Energy issued the emergency order to ensure reliable electricity supply during peak summer demand, citing reliability concerns in the Rocky Mountain region—including aging thermal generation and supply-chain constraints—as well as the risk that retiring reliable generation could threaten grid reliability and increase costs.

Which utilities are directed by the emergency order to keep Craig Station Unit 1 available, and until when does the latest order run?

The order directs Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Platte River Power Authority, Salt River Project, PacifiCorp, and Xcel Energy’s subsidiary Public Service Company of Colorado to keep Craig Station Unit 1 ready to operate at the direction of the Southwest Power Pool; the latest order runs from June 29 through September 26.

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