New DOE Program Offers Cybersecurity Assistance To Public Power Utilities

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
August 21, 2022

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) recently launched the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program.

The program will prioritize rural, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities that have limited cybersecurity resources, are critical to the reliability of the bulk-power system, and/or those that own defense critical electric infrastructure. 

CESER will develop the program in coordination with other government partners, leveraging the $250 million made available in Section 40124 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

On Aug. 18, CESER hosted the first in a series of listening sessions for eligible entities and other interested parties.

CESER will collect input from the listening sessions to create a comprehensive program plan that bolsters cybersecurity for eligible utilities based on the needs identified by session participants, DOE said.

A listening session scheduled for Sept. 29 will focus on the unique needs of electric municipal utilities and their key priorities.

Registration will open approximately two weeks before the listening session date. Additional details about this and other listening sessions are available here.