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China Opens Public Consultation on Optimizing Environmental Power Price Regulation

China's market regulator is seeking public feedback on a draft notice to optimize environmental power price regulation. Foreign founders operating energy-intensive businesses in China should note the October 20, 2026 deadline and submission channels.

China Seeks Public Input on Environmental Power Price Rules

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has drafted a notice on optimizing the regulation of environmental power prices and is now inviting public comments on the proposal. The announcement was published on October 13, 2026, by SAMR's Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Bureau.

For foreign founders building or running businesses in China, this consultation is worth tracking. Power costs sit inside the operating budget of nearly every manufacturer, data operator and industrial facility, and the draft touches how environmental-related power pricing will be supervised. Below is a practical summary of what the notice says and how foreign-invested companies can take part.

What the Draft Notice Covers

According to the announcement, SAMR organized the drafting of the Notice on Matters Related to Optimizing Environmental Power Price Regulation (Draft for Comments). The stated aims of the draft are threefold:

• To further advance pollution reduction in coal-fired power generation;
• To protect the lawful rights and interests of coal-fired power generation enterprises;
• To build a coordinated and efficient regulatory mechanism for environmental power prices.

The announcement does not set out the detailed provisions of the draft itself. Those details sit in the two attachments referenced in the notice: the draft notice for comments and an explanatory document on its drafting. Companies with exposure to electricity pricing should review those attachments directly on SAMR's website before deciding whether to respond.

Why This Matters for Foreign Founders

Environmental power price rules affect how power generators are supervised and how environmental costs flow through the electricity system. For foreign founders, the practical relevance is indirect but real:

• Energy-intensive operations: Manufacturers, processors and other facilities with heavy electricity use should monitor regulatory direction on power pricing, since it can influence long-term cost planning.
• Enterprises with generation assets: Foreign-invested companies holding or partnering on coal-fired generation assets have a direct stake in how environmental power price rules are applied and how their lawful rights are protected.
• Compliance planning: Understanding the regulatory framework early helps founders build more realistic operating budgets and compliance calendars.

It is important to note that the announcement is a consultation notice, not a final rule. The text does not state new price levels, subsidy amounts or enforcement timelines. Founders should treat it as an early signal of regulatory direction rather than a settled cost input.

How to Submit Comments

SAMR has set out two official channels for public feedback. Both are open to the public, and foreign founders or their China-based teams can use them.

Channel 1: Online Submission

Commenters can visit the SAMR website at www.samr.gov.cn and use the "Solicitation Survey" section under the "Interaction" column on the homepage to submit their views.

Channel 2: Postal Mail

Written comments can be mailed to:

• Addressee: Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Bureau, SAMR
• Address: No. 9 Madian East Road, Haidian District, Beijing
• Postal code: 100088

The envelope should be marked with the words "Feedback on the Notice on Matters Related to Optimizing Environmental Power Price Regulation (Draft for Comments)." Using the exact marking helps ensure the submission reaches the correct handling unit.

Deadline

The comment period closes on October 20, 2026. Submissions received after that date may not be considered in the consultation process. Founders who want their views reflected should plan to file well before the deadline, particularly if using postal mail.

Practical Steps for Foreign-Invested Companies

Based on the announcement, foreign founders can take a few sensible steps:

• Read the attachments first. The draft notice and drafting explanation contain the substantive provisions; the announcement itself is procedural.
• Assess relevance to your operations. Determine whether your China entity uses significant electricity or holds interests in coal-fired generation.
• Coordinate with local teams. China-based staff can submit comments online or by mail in Chinese, which is typically the working language of the consultation.
• Document your position. If you file comments, keep records of what was submitted and when, for your own compliance files.
• Monitor follow-up. Watch SAMR's website for the final notice and any accompanying guidance after the consultation closes.

What the Announcement Does Not Say

To avoid misreading the notice, note what is absent. The announcement does not disclose the draft's specific pricing formulas, does not promise any particular outcome for coal-fired generators, and does not state when a final version will take effect. Any planning should therefore remain provisional until SAMR publishes the final notice.

Key Takeaways

• SAMR issued a public consultation on October 13, 2026, on a draft notice to optimize environmental power price regulation.
• The draft aims to advance pollution reduction in coal-fired power generation, protect the lawful rights of coal-fired generators, and build a coordinated, efficient regulatory mechanism.
• Comments can be submitted via the SAMR website or by post to the Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Bureau in Beijing.
• The deadline for feedback is October 20, 2026.
• The draft notice and drafting explanation are attached to the announcement and should be reviewed directly.

Foreign founders with energy-intensive operations or generation interests in China should treat this consultation as an early opportunity to understand the direction of environmental power price regulation and, where relevant, to make their views known through the official channels before the deadline.

Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.