January 2026: New ISO 22366 Standard Sets Framework for Energy Resilience in Organizational Management

January 2026 marks a pivotal moment for organizations involved in energy supply, management, and organizational resilience: ISO has published ISO 22366:2026 – Security and resilience – Community resilience – Framework and principles for energy resilience. This comprehensive international standard provides organizations with a structured approach to fostering energy resilience, enabling them to mitigate risks and recover effectively from both natural and man-made disruptions. With a single, but far-reaching, new standard released during this period, the focus is squarely on empowering all stakeholders within energy supply networks to build robust, adaptive, and sustainable infrastructure.

Overview

In our increasingly interconnected world, the resilience of energy supply systems underpins the stability of entire economies and societies. From organizational leadership to front-line operations, effective management and quality assurance depend on reliable energy access. Disruptions—whether due to extreme weather, cyber threats, supply chain failures, or operational incidents—can cascade rapidly through social and technical systems, affecting everything from basic services to critical transport networks.

Standards in organizational management, administration, and transport play a vital role by:

• Mandating risk mitigation, continuity, and recovery practices;
• Defining quality benchmarks for processes and infrastructure;
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder cooperation for unified preparedness;
• Enabling compliance with national and global policy objectives, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This article explores the new ISO 22366:2026 standard, its underlying principles, and its wide-ranging impact on public administrations, utilities, private industry, and community organizations.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 22366:2026 – Energy Resilience Principles for Organizations

Security and resilience — Community resilience — Framework and principles for energy resilience

Published January 2026, ISO 22366 offers a benchmark for developing, implementing, and maintaining energy resilience within organizations, with a focus on both social and technical dimensions. The standard addresses:

• Frameworks for risk-aware resilience planning;
• Roles for key stakeholders (governments, industry, financial institutions, users);
• Risk assessment and event analysis for the energy system;
• Approaches for enhancing and sustaining organizational energy resilience;
• Practical management of interconnected supply networks;
• The concept of “build back better” post-disruption, integrating risk reduction and sustainable reconstruction.

What Does ISO 22366 Cover?

ISO 22366 defines nine core principles guiding energy resilience:

1. Recognize diverse social, technical, and geopolitical contexts of energy systems;
2. Foster social capital and collaboration across the supply chain;
3. Enhance diversity and redundancy in both physical and organizational systems;
4. Manage connectivity and interdependencies;
5. Encourage collaborative learning, sharing knowledge widely;
6. Implement polycentric governance (decision-making at multiple levels);
7. Align social and technical structures (“fit”) for integrated governance;
8. Manage complexity, considering both system robustness and vulnerabilities;
9. Build sustainability into resilience planning.

Key Requirements and Specifications

Organizations are expected to:

• Identify disruptive events and related risks affecting the energy supply system;
• Assess vulnerabilities and potential cascading effects across supply networks (e.g., grid, gas, pipelines);
• Develop comprehensive energy resilience plans, covering:
  • Emergency response coordination
  • Internal/external communications
  • Governance structures and resource allocation
  • Financing and investment alignment
  • Training and education of personnel
  • Asset management and the deployment of emerging technologies
  • Energy supply network management and backup systems
  • Procedures for “build back better” recovery
• Engage cooperatively with public sector, finance, and user groups to coordinate rapid restoration efforts;
• Promote expertise and cooperation for knowledge exchange and emergency communications.

Target Stakeholders:

• National, regional, and local governments;
• Operators of critical energy infrastructures (electricity, gas, petroleum);
• Industrial, commercial, and institutional energy users;
• Financial sector organizations involved in risk assessment or infrastructure investment;
• Emergency and rescue services supporting energy recovery operations.

Practical Implications

For energy suppliers and major consumers:

• Requires risk-based diversification of energy sources and suppliers
• Mandates vulnerability assessments for assets and supply chains
• Emphasizes investment in backup power, distributed energy resources (DER), and resilient technologies (e.g., microgrids)

For governments and regulators:

• Provides guidance for policy enactment, regulation amendment, and public-private engagement
• Stipulates criteria for identifying responsible authorities, critical assets, and interdependencies

For financial institutions:

• Guides investment strategies and risk mitigation for energy infrastructure projects

For communities and end users:

• Encourages adoption of distributed generation, storage, and energy efficiency as part of resilience planning

Notable Advancements

ISO 22366 leverages lessons from:

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
• UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, and 13
• Paris Agreement principles of rapid recovery, adaptation, and climate-resilient infrastructure

Key highlights:

• Holistic risk assessment across technical and social systems
• Structured multi-stakeholder governance models
• Resilience-by-design through both preventative and “build back better” recovery approaches

Access the full standard:View ISO 22366:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Organizations adopting ISO 22366 will be distinctly positioned to minimize operational downtime, mitigate risks to physical and digital infrastructure, and improve their overall crisis management effectiveness. For multinational corporations, utilities, and public organizations, compliance demonstrates commitment to:

• Regulatory and stakeholder expectations
• Sustainability and resilience mandates embedded in national or international frameworks
• Protecting brand reputation and stakeholder trust through transparency and preparedness

Compliance Considerations:

• Implementation timelines may vary by regulatory jurisdiction, but early adoption ensures competitive advantage
• Organizations must set up or update risk registers, resilience plans, and training programs
• Regular audits and simulations are encouraged to validate plan effectiveness
• Supply chain partners will increasingly expect verifiable compliance for business continuity

Benefits of Adoption:

• Reduced risk exposure to energy-related disruptions (natural disasters, technical failures, cyber threats)
• Enhanced operational and financial continuity
• Improved stakeholder confidence
• Access to financial incentives or preferential investment conditions (as per guidance for financial institutions)
• Alignment with global sustainability and resilience objectives

Risks of Non-Compliance:

• Prolonged service outages, lost productivity, and financial losses
• Regulatory penalties or exclusion from critical infrastructure projects
• Reputational damage and loss of stakeholder confidence

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements:

• Comprehensive resilience plans: detailing risk identification, disruption prevention, restoration protocols, and post-event reconstruction
• Multi-layered risk assessments: covering physical, cyber, operational, and environmental vulnerabilities
• Asset management integration: leveraging emerging technologies (e.g., IoT sensors, predictive analytics) for real-time monitoring
• Backup systems and DER integration: fostering redundancy through microgrids, distributed storage, and on-site generation
• Knowledge management: institutionalizing lessons learned from disruptions and fostering a culture of continuous improvement

Implementation Best Practices:

1. Engage multi-disciplinary teams (technical, operational, financial) for holistic risk identification
2. Build scenario-based contingency plans and conduct regular drills
3. Align investment decisions with resilience targets, leveraging public-private partnerships
4. Update training and awareness programs for all staff and supply chain partners
5. Monitor regulatory developments in energy resilience at both national and international levels

Testing and Certification Considerations:

• Regular external or internal audits to verify alignment with ISO 22366 requirements
• Simulation and modeling exercises to stress-test system resilience
• Certification by accredited third-party bodies can provide added assurance for regulators, investors, and partners

Conclusion / Next Steps

The January 2026 release of ISO 22366:2026 sets new benchmarks for energy resilience within organizational management and quality frameworks. By integrating comprehensive risk management, stakeholder collaboration, and robust implementation guidelines, this standard enables governments, operators, and end-users to build more resilient energy ecosystems—vital for social and economic continuity in the face of escalating risks.

Key takeaways:

• ISO 22366 delivers a holistic energy resilience framework for organizations
• It establishes clear roles, responsibilities, and actions for every link in the energy supply chain
• Adoption is both a compliance imperative and a business advantage

Recommendations:

• Organizational leaders, regulators, and compliance managers should conduct an immediate gap analysis against the new standard
• Update policies, procedures, and training to align with ISO 22366 principles
• Collaborate with stakeholders to embed resilience thinking across the supply network
• Regularly monitor technological, regulatory, and environmental trends impacting energy resilience

Take action:Access ISO 22366:2026 and explore further at iTeh Standards to lead the way in energy and organizational resilience.