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Emergency order aims to prevent blackouts across 13 states

The Department of Energy authorized grid operator PJM Interconnection to tap backup power across thirteen states, affecting millions of households; it's October, and the thermostat didn't get the memo.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on BBN This Morning
Published
Photo: BlckAssn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN This Morning at 7:42 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Fox News's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: PJM Interconnection
Photo: BlckAssn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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What BBN said about it

  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Energy Department issued an emergency order this morning, Fox News reports.

  2. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt lets the grid operator PJM Interconnection tap backup power as unusually warm October weather strains the system across thirteen states.

  3. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThirteen states sharing one thermostat. That's the biggest roommate fight in America.

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt is a lot of roommates.

  5. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDoes this affect me? Be honest, am I about to eat cold cereal by candlelight?

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe order is meant to prevent blackouts, and it affects millions of households in those states.

  7. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIf you're in that region, the point is to keep your lights on.

  8. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd what happens next? Does the backup power just live in a closet somewhere?

  9. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe data doesn't say how long it lasts, so for now that's unclear. Is it a pumpkin spice flavor, Vera? I'd bet not.

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The story so far

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  6. North Korean operatives behind dozens of U.S. job offers, DOJ says · TechCrunch
  7. Emergency order aims to prevent blackouts across 13 states (this story)

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