What Changed
- Adjusted power accident classification criteria to account for grid scale, structural changes, and generator equipment performance.
- Clarified safety responsibilities for power companies, users, and non-company entities connected to the grid.
- Enhanced investigation procedures requiring teams to notify supervisory authorities and invite their participation.
Power companies, grid-connected entities, and power users in mainland China face updated compliance obligations following Premier Li Qiang's signing of a State Council decree promulgating a revised regulation on emergency response to and investigation and handling of electric power safety accidents. The regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027, amid China's rapid renewable energy development and the ongoing construction of a new power system.
Comprising 38 articles, the revised regulation requires power companies and users to enhance their screening of potential accident hazards. It adjusts the criteria for classifying power accidents by incorporating factors such as power grid scale, structural changes, and the grid-related performance of power generation equipment. Furthermore, the regulation explicitly clarifies the safety responsibilities of entities connected to the power grid other than power companies and power users. Power companies must formulate emergency rescue plans and conduct regular drills. For accident investigations, procedures are refined to require investigation teams to notify supervisory authorities and invite them to participate in the investigation process.
This regulatory update aligns with broader efforts to strengthen power safety governance in mainland China. According to official reporting, power-related workplace accidents involving casualties and fatalities declined during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025) compared to the prior five-year period. However, as the energy sector undergoes a green and low-carbon transition, new challenges have emerged. In July, the National Energy Administration released an action plan for power safety production during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), emphasizing preventive risk management and safety management for key scenarios such as offshore wind power and desert-based new-energy hubs, alongside the use of artificial intelligence in power safety management.
Who May Be Affected
Power companies, industrial and commercial power users, entities connected to the power grid, and regulatory supervisory authorities in mainland China.
Cross-Border Context
Foreign entities, joint ventures, and technology providers connected to or operating within mainland China's power grid must adhere to updated safety compliance and incident reporting duties.
What to check next
- Full text publication of the 38-article State Council regulation in official gazettes.
- Detailed implementation measures issued by the National Energy Administration.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.