Proposed 'PROTECT the Grid Act' Targets Smart Appliances Over 500 Watts, Mandates Federal Review of Foreign Apps

The “Preventing Remote Operations by Threatening Entities on Critical Technology for the Grid Act”—mercifully shortened to the PROTECT the Grid Act—is looking to lock down your smart home devices before they can be weaponized against the U.S. power supply. The core idea is simple: high-wattage smart devices, like EV chargers and connected AC units, are increasingly controlled by apps linked to foreign adversaries, and a coordinated attack through these apps could destabilize our electric grid. This bill doesn’t ban anything yet, but it mandates a deep dive by the Department of Commerce into the risks and requires recommendations for severe restrictions, all within 270 days of the bill becoming law (Sec. 4).

The Smart Home Security Check

This legislation is focused squarely on devices that draw serious juice: the “high-wattage IoT device” is defined as any internet-connected gadget that uses or manages more than 500 watts of power (Sec. 3). Think smart thermostats connected to your HVAC, high-end washers and dryers, or that shiny new electric vehicle charger in your garage. The concern is that if a foreign adversary—explicitly defined to include nations like China and Venezuela under Maduro—controls the app that manages these devices, they could simultaneously command them to draw or stop drawing power, causing massive frequency imbalances and cascading failures across the grid (Sec. 2).

The Secretary of Commerce must now assess exactly how many of these devices are out there and detail the national security risks posed by “foreign adversary-controlled applications” that run them (Sec. 4). This includes any app run, directly or indirectly, by an organization under the jurisdiction or influence of a foreign adversary (Sec. 3). For consumers, this means the government is about to scrutinize the origin of the apps controlling their appliances. If the Commerce Department finds significant risk, their recommendations could include placing restrictions on the sale of these devices or requiring new certification and labeling rules (Sec. 4).

Locking Down Supply Chain Security

Beyond the smart appliance focus, the PROTECT the Grid Act has a massive, permanent impact on U.S. supply chain security by making a previous presidential order permanent law. Section 5 of the bill codifies Executive Order 13873 into statute. This is a huge deal. That executive order deals with securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain, and by turning it into federal law, Congress removes the ability of any future President to easily change or revoke those provisions with a new executive order. It essentially locks in the current framework for vetting and restricting foreign-made tech in our critical infrastructure.

What This Means for You

If you own a smart appliance, this bill is a signal that the federal government is serious about the security risks they pose. While the bill’s goal—protecting the electric grid—is clearly beneficial, the path to implementation could get bumpy. The definitions are broad; a “covered entity” includes any organization “influenced by” a foreign adversary (Sec. 3). This broad authority could lead to market disruptions. If the Commerce Department recommends sales restrictions, you might see fewer options or higher prices for smart home devices, particularly those manufactured by companies with ties to the identified foreign adversaries.

For businesses, particularly importers and retailers, this bill creates immediate uncertainty. The upcoming report will determine which devices and apps are flagged as risky, potentially forcing supply chain changes or even requiring companies to pull products from shelves. The government is essentially saying, “We need to know who is controlling the on/off switch for a quarter of the country’s appliance market, and if it’s a bad actor, that switch is getting disabled.” The analysis is sound, but the required recommendations could result in a significant shake-up of the consumer electronics market.