Emergency order blocks many new imports of foreign power‑grid equipment

What this does and who it affects

• What: Declares a national emergency focused on foreign supply risks to the U.S. bulk‑power system and prohibits many new transactions involving foreign‑produced bulk‑power equipment when tied to certain foreign interests.
• Who it affects: utilities, grid operators, vendors and installers of bulk‑power equipment, and federal energy procurement across the United States.
• Key timelines: the Secretary of Energy must publish implementing rules within 120 days; recommend Federal Acquisition Regulation revisions within 180 days; the FAR Council has 90 days after receiving those recommendations to consider proposing changes.

Main powers and limits

• Prohibitions: Blocks acquisition, import, transfer, or installation of foreign‑produced bulk‑power electric equipment (and related components, software, firmware, maintenance, or remote access) for transactions started after the order date when a Covered Foreign Entity has any interest and the Secretary finds an undue or unacceptable risk.
• Authority over existing equipment: The Secretary can require identification, isolation, monitoring, securing, disconnection, replacement, or removal of previously installed equipment, with consideration for reliability and phased compliance.
• Licensing and exceptions: The Secretary may design mitigation measures or licensing procedures to permit otherwise prohibited transactions, and may publish a list of pre‑qualified equipment and vendors; regulations, licenses, or statutes can provide exceptions.

Definitions and examples

• "Bulk‑power system": the interconnected transmission network and generation needed for reliability; includes transmission lines rated at 69,000 volts or more.
• Example equipment covered: substation transformers, inverters, battery energy storage systems, large and backup generators, protective relaying, industrial control systems (RTUs, PLCs, IEDs), high‑voltage breakers, metering equipment, and related software/firmware and remote access capabilities.
• "Covered Foreign Entity": countries under an arms embargo or sanctions under ITAR or entities the Secretary (with other officials) determines pose detrimental conduct.

Reporting and implementation

• The Secretary of Energy is authorized to adopt rules, direct cessation of prohibited transactions, order replacements, and redelegate authority within agencies.
• Agencies must report to Congress as required under the National Emergencies Act and IEEPA.

Why it matters

• The order focuses federal power and procurement policy on reducing reliance on some foreign‑produced grid equipment to address national‑security, resilience, and supply‑chain risks.