An electrified handguard for firearms has mounting rails and also supplies electrical power to rail mounted accessories such as flashlights and lasers. A handguard power coupler can receive electrical power from a battery or other power source located elsewhere such as in a buttstock assembly. The electrical power is then routed to power connections in the handguard power coupler. A rail accessory can then be electrically connected to a power connection when it is mechanically attached to a mounting rail.