DOE Seeks Public Comment on Foreign Power-Grid Gear Rules
The Department of Energy requests public input on implementing a recent executive order authorizing it to prohibit or restrict foreign-produced equipment in the nation's bulk-power system on national security grounds.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking public comment on the implementation of Executive Order 14421, which grants the agency broad authority to secure the nation's bulk-power system. The order, issued in August 2026 amid rising cybersecurity concerns, allows the Secretary of Energy to prohibit or impose mitigation measures on transactions involving foreign-produced electric equipment deemed to pose a national security risk. The authority extends to equipment already in operation, empowering DOE to order its monitoring, isolation, or removal.
The request for information directly impacts electric utilities, independent generators, transmission developers, data centers, and manufacturers whose projects and supply chains rely on foreign components such as transformers, inverters, and industrial control systems. This is a critical opportunity for industry stakeholders to shape the forthcoming regulations by submitting comments before the October 9, 2026, deadline. The DOE must publish its final implementing rules by December 24, 2026, which will define covered equipment and entities, risk evaluation criteria, and a potential pre-qualification process for trusted vendors.