New Security Rules for Critical Infrastructure

November 2, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

The federal government aims to better protect critical infrastructure against sabotage. To this end, the Cabinet has adopted two regulations that provide for additional security screenings.

The federal government is strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure against sabotage. The Federal Cabinet has adopted two regulations to this end. They are intended to expand security screenings to additional sectors of the economy and facilities. In addition, technical staff working on the warning infrastructure for crises and disasters will also be subject to security screenings in the future.

This move comes against the backdrop of the heightened security situation in Germany. Since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the threat of hybrid attacks has increased. According to the federal government, this also increases the risk of sabotage by so-called “insiders”—that is, individuals who, due to their professional activities, have access to facilities and systems requiring special protection. The government therefore attaches great importance to the protection of critical infrastructure.

With the ordinance revising the Security Clearance Determination Ordinance—now known as the Federal Sabotage Protection Ordinance—the federal government is incorporating additional economic sectors and use cases involving vital facilities into the existing regulations. This is intended to improve protection against potential acts of sabotage originating from within organizations and to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure. Another change concerns the warning infrastructure for crises and disasters. The First Ordinance Amending the Security Clearance Determination Ordinance stipulates that, in the future, technical staff at state broadcasting corporations who work with this infrastructure will also undergo security clearance checks.

Federal Network Agency as Federal Load Dispatcher

The electricity supply is also a focus of government precautionary measures. As indicated in a response from the federal government to a parliamentary question from the AfD parliamentary group, the final decision regarding which electricity consumers will be affected by a potential load reduction rests with the Federal Network Agency. In the event of an energy shortage, it assumes the role of the so-called federal load dispatcher.

To this end, the federal government will, if necessary, authorize the Federal Network Agency by regulation based on the Energy Security Act (EnSiG). The agency will then decide which consumers are affected by a load reduction order.

To prepare for severe electricity shortages and widespread power outages, the Federal Network Agency has been developing the “Strom” security platform for several years. This digital tool is designed to enable targeted reductions in electricity consumption or the disconnection of individual consumers from the grid. This may affect electricity grid operators as well as electricity consumers with an annual electricity consumption of more than eight gigawatt-hours.

However, the launch of the platform, originally planned for January 2026, has been delayed. According to the federal government, the Federal Network Agency now plans to introduce it during the winter of 2026/2027.

Further information on the reform of the security review system is available from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI).

Author: Susanne Harmsen