WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Dave McCormick (R-PA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a critical federal grant program that helps rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities strengthen their cybersecurity defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The legislation reauthorizes the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant and Technical Assistance Program at the Department of Energy, which provides rural electric cooperatives and publicly owned utilities with the resources, technical assistance, and support they need to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. Companion legislation was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year.
“Our rural and municipal utilities are increasingly on the front lines of protecting the electric grid from cyber threats,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan bill makes a smart investment in safeguarding critical infrastructure, supporting local utilities, and keeping the lights on for communities across America.”
“America’s electric grid is a critical piece of our national security, and every utility—regardless of size or location—must have the resources to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats,” said Senator McCormick. “Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities serve millions of Americans, including communities across Pennsylvania, but often operate with fewer cybersecurity resources than larger utilities. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure they have the support they need to protect our energy infrastructure and keep the lights on.”
“America needs clean, reliable, affordable, and secure energy,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “As cybersecurity threats continue to rise, our bill enables rural cooperatives and utilities to defend against sophisticated attacks, protect consumers, and keep energy affordable.”
“Malicious actors and foreign adversaries are targeting America’s infrastructure, and that is why we introduced legislation to support electric cooperatives and utility providers as they work to harden critical energy infrastructure against cyberattacks. Doing so will help ensure the resilience of the electrical grid, supporting both our economic and national security while ensuring important services remain available in an era of increasing cyber threats,” said Senator Hoeven.
“I was proud to help establish this grant program in the bipartisan infrastructure law to help rural utilities protect themselves from cybersecurity threats,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This program has proven incredibly successful and there is bipartisan support to reauthorize it. As new cyber threats continue to emerge, I’ll keep working to ensure our rural communities have what they need to adapt.”
Background:
Cyberattacks targeting America’s energy infrastructure have become more frequent and more sophisticated in recent years. Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities often face unique resource constraints that make federal cybersecurity assistance especially valuable. The RMUC Grant Program helps eligible utilities improve cybersecurity preparedness through grants, technical assistance, and workforce development, helping strengthen the resilience of the nation’s electric grid.
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act would:
- Reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant and Technical Assistance Program through 2031;
- Continue providing grants and technical assistance to rural electric cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities;
- Help eligible utilities prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats;
- Support cybersecurity planning, workforce development, vulnerability assessments, and other activities that improve the resilience of the electric grid;
- Strengthen partnerships between the federal government and locally owned utilities to protect America’s critical energy infrastructure; and
- Authorize $250 million over five years to support these efforts.
The full text of the bill is available here.
The legislation is supported by utility organizations representing electric cooperatives and public power providers across the country.
“The American Public Power Association (APPA) applauds Senator McCormick for moving to reauthorize the RMUC Grant Program,” said Scott Corwin, President and CEO, APPA. “This is a proven, practical investment that helps not-for-profit public power utilities strengthen their cyber defenses in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats. With RMUC support, APPA has launched the Cyber Accelerator Program to help utilities assess their readiness and take concrete steps to improve their security posture. We urge Congress to act quickly to extend this program and ensure every community has access to the tools needed to protect our nation’s energy infrastructure.”
“Cyber threats to America’s electric grid are growing more sophisticated by the day, and rural utilities depend on their partnerships with the government to help keep the grid secure,” said Jim Matheson, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Program is closing the resource gap and equipping electric cooperatives with the tools they need to protect the electrical infrastructure on which millions of Americans depend. We’re grateful for the leadership of Senators McCormick, Curtis, Hickenlooper, Hoeven, and Cortez Masto in introducing this reauthorization.”