On October 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order giving PJM Interconnection additional authority to maintain electric reliability from October 13 through October 16. PJM, which serves all or parts of 13 states and Washington, D.C., faced a combination of elevated electricity demand, planned generation outages, and transmission outages.
For pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, and surgery centers, the timing offers a useful reminder: power continuity deserves attention beyond summer heat waves and winter storms.
Why October Put Pressure on the Grid
According to the order, planned maintenance during the autumn outage season had taken generating capacity offline. Elevated demand and transmission limitations added pressure while those resources were unavailable.
The order authorized additional generation and, under specified emergency conditions, the use of certain backup resources to help maintain service. It specifically excluded backup resources serving critical reliability or backup needs, including those at hospitals.
These measures were intended to preserve reliability. For healthcare facility managers, the practical takeaway is to review their own readiness before an interruption occurs, regardless of the month.
Start With the Equipment That Needs Continuous Power
A useful review begins with a specific equipment list. Which devices need to remain operational, and what happens if each one loses power?
For a pharmacy, that may include medication refrigerators, dispensing workstations, and network equipment. A laboratory may need to protect specimen storage, instruments, and computers supporting an active process. A surgery center should evaluate equipment with its clinical and facilities teams according to the facility’s emergency procedures and applicable requirements.
Include supporting equipment in that review. Keeping a refrigerator running is one part of the plan. Maintaining power to the equipment used for remote monitoring and notifications may also matter.
Confirm What Your Existing Backup Actually Supports
If your facility already has backup power, verify which equipment and circuits it serves. Trace the connection from each priority device to its backup source.
Consider how the equipment responds during the transition. Can it tolerate a brief interruption, or does a loss of power trigger a restart, interrupt a process, or require staff intervention?
A properly selected battery backup system can support compatible equipment during an outage or bridge the transition to another power source. Selection should account for voltage, running load, startup demand, transfer time, and installation requirements.
Match Runtime to Your Response Plan
The required runtime should reflect what your team needs to accomplish during an outage.
A refrigerator may need support until utility service returns or staff can arrange alternate storage. Other equipment may need enough time to complete a process or shut down safely. After-hours coverage and travel time can affect those decisions.
Review runtime whenever equipment is added or operating requirements change. An additional refrigerator or connected device can change how long an existing battery system supports the load.
Make Power Continuity a Year-Round Review
Use a scheduled review to confirm equipment priorities, check system condition, and update staff responsibilities. Follow manufacturer guidance for maintenance and testing, and confirm that the people responding to an outage know what the system powers and how to check its status.
The October PJM emergency provides a timely reason to revisit those details before the next interruption.
Contact the Medi-Products team to review your equipment, installation, and runtime requirements and find a battery backup system suited to your facility.
