“But you need to know.”

“The city council just signed an emergency order regarding private microgrids.”

I gripped the phone tighter, my fingers going cold.

“What kind of order?” I asked.

“They’re declaring your setup near the canal an unauthorized utility,” he said.

“They’re sending code enforcement officers to shut down your battery banks.”

“They’ll be at your headquarters in twenty minutes.”

My hand shook as I lowered the phone.

Derek came out of the kitchen alcove carrying two steaming mugs.

The smell of cheap hazelnut coffee filled the drafty room.

“Who was that?” he asked, setting the mugs down on the corner of the desk.

A splash of hot liquid spilled over, soaking into the edge of our printed grid layouts.

“Arthur,” I said, my voice tight. “The city council just signed an emergency order.”

Derek froze, his hand still resting near the coffee mugs.

“They’re calling the canal setup an unauthorized utility,” I said. “Code enforcement is on their way to shut down the battery banks.”

“They can’t do that,” Derek said. “We have the temporary use permits.”