U.S. DOE Seeks Industry Input to Implement Executive Order Protecting Bulk-Power System
On August 26, 2026, the U.S. government issued Executive Order 14421 (“Declaring a National Emergency To Secure the United States Bulk-Power System”). The Order is intended to defend the U.S. bulk-power system (“BPS”) from national security risks. The Order is intended to prevent foreign entities that may pose cyber-security risks from being able to invest in the system, including preventing them from acquiring or installing grid equipment. The U.S. Secretary of Energy was given 120 days to implement the Order.
In response to the Order, on September 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) published a Request For Information (“RFI”) in the Federal Register. Per the RFI’s summary, U.S. DOE seeks to solicit feedback from industry stakeholders on several subjects, including:
the scope of covered equipment and transactions; risks associated with Covered Foreign Entities and foreign-produced bulk-power system electric equipment; supply chain, software, firmware, digital service, maintenance service, and remote-access practices; existing equipment and potential mitigation; licensing and prequalification; domestic manufacturing and secure replacement capacity; Federal procurement; and potential economic, reliability, safety, and small-entity impacts.
Responses must be submitted on or before October 9, 2026.
Read Executive Order 14421 in the Federal Register here:
Read the RFI in the Federal Register here:
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