A power grid emergency declared by the federal government is affecting New Jersey as officials take steps to reduce the risk of power shortages in several states.

The emergency order was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this week for New Jersey and 12 other Mid-Atlantic states. Federal officials said it is meant to “mitigate blackout risks in the mid-Atlantic ahead of a period of elevated demand, a high rate of planned generator outages during the autumn maintenance season, and numerous planned transmission outages.”

The directive allows certain generating facilities to operate beyond normal restrictions in order to maintain electricity supplies.

“This order will help ensure millions of American families and businesses across the mid-Atlantic have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including backup power, available to use as needed,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

Federal officials said the order is not an indication that blackouts are imminent, but rather a precaution to help ensure residents in the affected states do not lose power. Wright said the “energy subtraction policies” of previous administrations have left the grid more vulnerable to blackouts.

The order was issued following an application from PJM Interconnection LLC, the regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in several states, including New Jersey.

PJM expects electricity demand to reach about 111,500 megawatts while many power plants are offline for maintenance and unable to generate electricity.

The order will remain in effect through Friday.