The National Energy Administration has issued the Guidelines for Classification and Grading of Energy Industry Data (2026 Edition), which take effect on July 1, 2026. The guidelines are formulated in accordance with the Energy Industry Data Security Management Measures (for Trial Implementation) and apply to non-confidential data processing activities in China's energy sector.

Data involving state secrets, or that may become state secrets when aggregated, must comply with relevant laws on guarding state secrets.

For classification, the guidelines provide two main dimensions. The first is by energy type, with primary categories covering coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, ocean, electricity, and hydrogen. The second is by energy activity, with secondary categories including planning, design, construction, production, storage and transportation, consumption, and scientific research. Data processors may further classify data into three or four levels based on content and characteristics.

For grading, energy data is classified into three levels: general, important, and core. Grading takes into account factors such as data importance, precision, scale, and security risks. Where multiple security risks exist, the highest risk level applies. Data levels are subject to dynamic adjustment when the factors determining them change.

Derivative data produced from important or core data through processing that can be restored to its original state is managed at the original level. If important or core data is desensitized and can no longer be restored, core data may be downgraded to important or general, and important data may be downgraded to general.

The guidelines specify identification rules for important and core data.

Important data includes geographic coordinate data with precision better than 100 meters for energy infrastructure: coal mines with annual output of 10 million tonnes or more; thermal power stations with single unit capacity of 1,000 MW or more and total installed capacity of 3,000 MW or more; hydropower stations (excluding pumped storage) with installed capacity of 1,200 MW or more or reservoir capacity of 1 billion cubic meters or more; nuclear power stations; and substations and converter stations above 750 kV.

Real-time command data from the production and operation of hydropower stations with installed capacity of 1,200 MW or more or reservoir capacity of 1 billion cubic meters or more, substations and converter stations above 750 kV, and the dispatch control system of the Oil and Gas Control Center of the National Pipeline Network Group is also classified as important data.

For electricity consumption data, original data from super-grade important power users, first- and second-grade important power users in national defense and military categories, and the original consumption data of 10 million or more power users constitutes important data.

Core data includes original consumption data of super-grade important power users for a continuous period of one year or more, and original consumption data of 100 million or more power users.

The guidelines define power users and important power users, and clarify that the referenced materials include planning documents, design drawings, construction drawings, production operation and maintenance materials, and scientific research materials. It also states that additional energy data assessed as important or core will be designated by the NEA through supplementary rules, and the guidelines will be revised as needed. The NEA is responsible for interpretation.