The Blubber

President Donald Trump announced today his intention to declare a "National Emergency on Electricity" in response to Ontario’s newly imposed 25% surcharge on electricity exports and its threat to cut off supply to the U.S. entirely.

The emergency declaration, Trump said in a social media post, would help the U.S. counter “the abusive threat” of losing electricity imports from Canada. In retaliation for Ontario’s surcharge, Trump reaffirmed his decision to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and warned that Canada would face severe consequences if Ontario follows through on cutting power exports.

"Can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, that so affects the life of innocent people, as a bargaining chip and threat?" Trump wrote. "They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!"

Escalating Trade Tensions Over Power Supply

Ontario imposed the 25% fee on Monday, targeting electricity exports to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota in response to Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the move was designed to put “maximum pressure” on the U.S. over its trade policies. He further warned that Ontario may cut off electricity exports entirely if Trump escalates tariffs further.

Ontario was the largest electricity exporter to the U.S. in 2023, supplying 15.2 terawatt-hours (TWh)—a critical source of power for several northern states.

Trump’s Energy Emergency Declaration

Trump had previously declared a national energy emergency on January 20, giving his administration emergency powers to fast-track energy infrastructure projects and maintain the operation of baseload power plants. While he has yet to provide specifics on the electricity emergency, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has authority to issue emergency orders, allowing power plants to operate at full capacity or suspend certain environmental regulations to ensure energy supply.

DOE has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)—which manages the state’s electric grid—said it is assessing the impact of Ontario’s decision. “We expect to have adequate reserves to meet reliability criteria and forecast demand for New York,” NYISO said in a statement.