An emergency order issued by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. It allows the Secretary of Energy to temporarily order connections of facilities and the generation, delivery, or transmission of electricity to best meet an emergency caused by war, a sudden increase in demand, or a shortage of energy or facilities. These temporary orders can also exempt power plants from federal, state, or local environmental rules and have historically been used to prevent outages during severe weather events or supply shortfalls.

Measure of the rate of energy transfer over a unit of time, with one watt equal to one joule (J) per second.

A form of renewable energy that uses the kinetic energy of wind to generate electricity. It involves capturing the wind’s energy through turbines, which then convert this mechanical energy into electricity. Modern wind power generation primarily relies on wind turbines, often grouped into wind farms, connected to the electrical grid.

The increase in energy demand during the winter months, usually due to heating needs. This can lead to higher energy prices and bills for a number of reasons, including: 

• Strained energy grid: The high demand can strain the energy grid, which can cause utilities to work harder to meet the need.
• Seasonal rate adjustments: Many energy providers adjust rates based on seasonal demand.
• Increased use of lighting: Shorter and darker winter days can lead to greater use of in-home lighting.