This paper proposes a new robust load frequency control (LFC) scheme for multiarea power systems based on the second-order sliding mode control and an extended disturbance observer. First, a reduced-order model of the power system LFC is derived. In this model, the load variations and net exchange tie-line power deviations are combined as a lumped disturbance which can be estimated by the extended disturbance observer. Second, a novel sliding surface is designed with the new transformed state variables obtained from the estimated disturbance. The system dynamics can be indicated by sliding surface design using the eigenvalue assignment or the optimal sliding manifold technique. The sliding variable is driven to the sliding surface with a second-order sliding mode algorithm named supertwisting algorithm. The stability of the proposed LFC scheme and the extended disturbance observer is proved using Lyapunov method. The merits of the scheme include faster response speed, stronger robustness against disturbances arising from power system parameter errors, and unmodeled dynamics, and the full consideration of tie-line power flow scheduling variations. Finally, numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the LFC scheme and reveal its advantages over the state of the arts.