In just a few short years, Digital Electricity (DE), which is a form of fault-managed power (FMP), has moved from a new and developing concept to becoming a clear choice for how next-generation environments will be powered. Every year brings more real-world projects and more proof points.
In 2026, the story will be less about the viability of FMP and more about when, where, and how to deploy it. There’s a growing ecosystem of manufacturers, designers, contractors, and standards bodies aligning around Digital Electricity and fault-managed power as a practical path to solving today’s power distribution demands while transforming your tomorrow.
Here’s what we expect in the year ahead for Digital Electricity.
More Companies Will Integrate DE into Their Own Offerings
As more manufacturers look for ways to differentiate and futureproof their product offerings, they’re opting to build DE directly into their platforms. One of the most exciting indicators of DE’s continued momentum is the launch of VoltServer’s Solution Partner Program.
The program helps companies like CommScope, DCPacket, JMA Wireless, Sinclair Digital, and Southwire bring their DE-powered products to market, whether they choose to embed, private-label, or resell Digital Electricity as part of their own business offerings.
Collaboration at this level is no doubt accelerating the adoption of Digital Electricity. In 2026, we’ll see Digital Electricity being offered more often as a default feature in the systems you already know, trust, and purchase.
Learn about our Solution Partner program.
FMP Alliance Will Extend Its Global Reach
The Fault-Managed Power (FMP) Alliance, formed in 2024, continues to be a central force in bringing organizations, government entities, and FMP stakeholders together. Their mission: to drive the global transition to fault-managed power adoption and educate different industries about its benefits. The association’s vision is a future where every community has access to safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy. A fitting ambition, considering that the Modern Energy Minimum says the world needs to generate 1,000 kWh per person per year to ensure modern energy access for everyone.
FMP Alliance membership continues to grow rapidly, with roughly 20 member organizations working together today to encourage the widespread adoption of fault-managed power by:
- Acting as a unified voice that emphasizes the merits of fault-managed power across industries
- Advocating for standards and regulations that create a clear, safe deployment framework
- Providing education and awareness to help stakeholders understand the benefits of FMP
Through the work of the FMP Alliance, fault-managed power solutions will gain even more ground in 2026 as its members influence standards and convey the value of specifying and deploying FMP. We predict more joint education, more co-branded resources for designers and AHJs, and more consistency in how FMP is described and applied.
Digital Electricity Will Reshape Data Center Power
Data center power demand has become a critical concern, with many projections stating that U.S. data center energy use could more than double in the next decade.
As these forecasts come into focus, discussions about Digital Electricity’s viability in and impact on data centers are intensifying. In fact, it’s a topic we recently explored during conversations with Cabling Installation & Maintenance and Data Center Dynamics: DE is a natural fit for data centers as AI workloads, higher rack densities, and sustainability pressures force operators to rethink power architecture.
Where traditional AC systems struggle to deliver efficient, scalable power, DE introduces a fault-managed, packetized approach that makes high-voltage DC safe and practical. By using communication cabling for intelligent power distribution, DE reduces conversion loss, simplifies infrastructure, and helps operators reclaim valuable white space. It also offers circuit-level visibility for:
- Fast issue identification and resolution
- Balanced loads
- Real-time capacity and distribution adjustments based on changing demands
This year, the market was introduced to the possibilities of Digital Electricity in data centers. In 2026, we anticipate DE being increasingly considered alongside traditional approaches as data center operators evaluate how to keep up with power demands.
Learn more about DE in data centers.
DE Will Become a New Design Default
Earlier this year, we made a bold prediction: Within the next two decades, fault-managed power distribution will become the standard for new building designs. And all signs point to the industry steadily moving in that direction.
As building owners battle rising energy demands, decarbonization goals, and space constraints, the smart move will be to consider Digital Electricity for intelligent power distribution. It is increasingly becoming the backbone for technology across the built environment as electrification and digitalization reshape infrastructure demands.
DE helps owners and operators modernize faster, with less disruption and lower installation costs than conventional AC systems. Because power is continuously monitored, it also gives facilities teams a new level of insight into and control over where and how energy is being used within their environments.
In 2026, we’ll see design and facilities teams learn how to treat DE as a strategic design tool that enables safe, zone-based, energy-efficient power distribution. It will meet the needs of:
- Transportation networks that must safely power and monitor distributed systems over long distances
- Service provider networks that need to centralize power for radios, antennas, and edge equipment while simplifying remote sites
- Building electrification that requires flexible, future-ready power to support EV charging, heat pumps, and other new loads
- Industrial and manufacturing environments that depend on reliable power for sensors, controls, and automation
- Smart buildings and campuses that must be able to continually add and reconfigure connected devices, experiences, and services without major electrical rework
Learn how DE is powering the future.
More Electrical Contractors Will Turn to FMP
Fault-managed power is starting to show up more often in project conversations and bid opportunities, as contractors and integrators discover the advantages that Digital Electricity brings to their projects:
- Faster installation
- Safer work environments
- New opportunities around smarter, monitored power
In Fall 2025, we even talked to electrical contractors at the NECA Convention about the opportunities waiting for them if they take advantage of FMP.
In 2026, FMP will become an even bigger growth category for contractors, integrators, and distributors that opt to build it into their offerings.
Read about the opportunities that await.
Codes Will Point the Way for Next-Gen Power Distribution
As FMP deployment accelerates, codes and standards are moving quickly to reflect its role in mainstream electrical design. The 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), Article 726, first introduced this type of power (Class 4 power), supported by UL 1400-1 and UL 1400-2.
The 2026 National Electrical Code, published this year, includes key changes that clarify the use of FMP, including:
- The removal of Chapter 8’s independence to create a more cohesive standard
- Definition of limited-energy cables in Article 100
- Reorganization of Chapter 7 Articles to include Articles from Chapter 8 for better alignment with the structure of the NEC overall
Together, these updates create a consistent framework for the design, installation, and inspection of communications and limited-energy systems. This reduces ambiguity for engineers, contractors, and AHJs.
Looking ahead to 2026, this clearer structure will give the industry a strong roadmap to incorporate Digital Electricity into future projects.
Powering What Comes Next
A pivotal year is ahead for DE. While none of these shifts will happen overnight, the future of power distribution is clear.
As energy demand rises and infrastructure becomes more complex, the most resilient organizations will be the ones that rethink power distribution now by treating Digital Electricity as a foundational tool for designing, operating, and scaling the built environment.
