Tianjin's industry and information technology bureau on Aug 28 released draft rules requiring all commercial and industrial power users at 35 kV and above to participate directly in the electricity market.

Users currently supplied through grid agency purchasing must complete registration on the Tianjin power trading platform by Dec 31, 2026, choosing to participate either as wholesale or retail users. Those completing registration in any given month will enter direct market trading from the following month.

Market-based trading for 2027 is expected to begin in November 2026. From Jan 1, 2027, users that have not completed registration — including newly added 35 kV and above commercial and industrial users from new connections, transfers or account splits — will no longer receive electricity through grid agency purchasing, with their full consumption settled temporarily at wholesale user excess consumption prices.