Kathmandu— United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday declaring a national emergency and restricting the purchase of certain foreign-produced equipment used in the country’s bulk-power system, citing risks to US national security. The administration described the move as a response to an “unusual and extraordinary foreign threat” posed by vulnerabilities within the energy grid. The Department of Energy now has 120 days to implement formal rules based on the policy, which targets equipment and related software that could create cybersecurity or operational risks.

National Security Concerns

The executive order centers around concerns about potential security threats stemming from foreign-made systems used within the US electricity grid. The administration alleges these systems could introduce vulnerabilities impacting national security, though specific details of those threats were not immediately released. This action follows reports last year of undisclosed communication devices discovered in Chinese solar power inverters, prompting further scrutiny of foreign equipment.

Implementation Challenges

While the order restricts future purchases of affected equipment, experts emphasize that identifying existing installations presents a significant challenge for utility companies. John Bruggeman, virtual chief information security officer of CBTS, explained that “Blocking new purchases is the easy part. Knowing what’s already running is where the real work starts.” Utility firms are now tasked with compiling an inventory of all equipment potentially flagged by the administration to ensure compliance.

Balancing Security and Reliability

The executive order doesn't impose a complete ban on all foreign-made equipment. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been directed to establish conditions allowing for continued use of existing affected equipment, suggesting an attempt to balance security concerns with maintaining the reliability of the power system. Michael Centrella at SecurityScorecard noted that “The difficult next step will be giving operators scalable, independent visibility into which assets and vendor relationships present the greatest risk without disrupting the reliability of the power system.”

Recent Actions by Regulatory Bodies

This executive order builds on previous actions taken to address foreign security threats to the grid. In July, the Federal Communications Commission banned new foreign-made power inverters with remote communication capabilities designed for use within the electric utility grid, signaling a growing focus on securing critical infrastructure.

The Department of Energy is expected to publish formal rules implementing the policy within 120 days, after which utility companies will begin the process of assessing their existing equipment and ensuring compliance.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.