Congress looks to revive critical cyber program for rural electric utilities | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"A House committee reauthorized an Energy Department program that funnels hundreds of millions of dollars and cybersecurity assistance to rural electric utilities.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/house-committee-advances-rural-utility-cybersecurity-act\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Congress looks to revive critical cyber program for rural electric utilities\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A House committee reauthorized an Energy Department program that funnels hundreds of millions of dollars and cybersecurity assistance to rural electric utilities.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/house-committee-advances-rural-utility-cybersecurity-act\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" 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<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"24.975198412698\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"29.665505226481\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/house-committee-advances-rural-utility-cybersecurity-act\/\"> <span>Cybersecurity<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> A House committee reauthorized an Energy Department program that funnels hundreds of millions of dollars and cybersecurity assistance to rural electric utilities. <\/p>\n<p>   <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-2.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><figcaption> Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce committee, speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"34.142412451362\"><body readability=\"69.879766297663\"><\/p>\n<p>The House Energy and Commerce committee unanimously passed a package of bipartisan cybersecurity bills Thursday targeting the energy sector, including legislation that would reauthorize and fund a critical federal cybersecurity assistance program for rural electric utilities across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net\/H_R_7266_Rural_and_Municipal_Utility_and_Cybersecurity_Act_Committee_Print_bccd70cb48.pdf\">Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act<\/a>, introduced by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., reauthorizes the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity program at the Department of Energy, which funnels hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and technical assistance every year to help rural utilities and cooperatives defend against cyberattacks and other threats.<\/p>\n<p>The program was created through the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and is widely viewed in the energy sector as a cybersecurity lifeline for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scworld.com\/news\/department-of-energy-opens-9-million-in-competitive-cyber-funding-to-small-electric-utilities\"> badly underfunded electric utilities<\/a> that would otherwise be a weak link in the nation\u2019s energy cybersecurity or reliability.<\/p>\n<p>Smaller utilities play a crucial role supporting the nation\u2019s energy grids, but many lack sophisticated IT or cybersecurity operations. Industry officials say it\u2019s not uncommon for some entities to have one or two IT or cybersecurity officials, if that. The bill approves $250 million in additional grant funding for the program over the next five years, part of which would go to implementing more modern cybersecurity technologies and enhancing information sharing. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking ahead of the vote, Miller-Meeks said her Iowa district\u2019s electric cooperative must serve rate payers across 20 different counties and faces \u201cthe same threats as metropolitan systems but with fewer resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt a time when cybersecurity attacks on our critical infrastructure are escalating and we have not yet authorized an appropriations bill for DHS, small and rural utilities need resources to defend against nation state actors and sophisticated threats,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., leveled his own criticism, claiming that the reauthorization was \u201cheld up for countless months due to senseless delays\u201d by Energy officials.<\/p>\n<p>Another bill, the <a href=\"https:\/\/d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net\/H_R_7258_Energy_Emergency_Leadership_Act_7443e1cc50.pdf\">Energy Emergency Leadership Act<\/a>, would move responsibility for the cybersecurity functions of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response under a single, Senate-confirmed assistant secretary.<\/p>\n<p>The bill\u2019s chief sponsor, Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., directly cited reports of ongoing threats to the nation\u2019s energy sector from Chinese state-sponsored hackers as a driver of the legislation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAt the same time our electric grid faces an increasingly complex threat landscape, state sponsored threats like Volt Typhoon have actively targeted U.S. critical infrastructure, including our electric grid,\u201d said Lee. \u201cThese are real and ongoing threats from foreign adversaries seeking to undermine our national security and economic stability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The committee also passed bills that <a href=\"https:\/\/d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net\/H_R_7257_Securing_Community_Upgrades_for_a_Resilient_Grid_Act_10d76ee403.pdf\">require states<\/a> to include cybersecurity in their energy plans, <a href=\"https:\/\/d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net\/H_R_7272_Pipeline_Cybersecurity_Preparedness_Act_465b3da747.pdf\">clarify<\/a> the Secretary of Energy\u2019s role promoting and coordinating cybersecurity of the nation\u2019s oil and natural gas pipelines, and <a href=\"https:\/\/d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net\/H_R_7305_Energy_Threat_Analysis_Center_Act_of_2026_1_8871226a2c.pdf\">codify<\/a> a pilot Energy Threat Analysis Center.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.2691029900332\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> 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{"id":8407,"date":"2026-03-06T08:14:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88081"},"modified":"2026-03-06T08:14:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:14:04","slug":"congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/congress-looks-to-revive-critical-cyber-program-for-rural-electric-utilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress looks to revive critical cyber program for rural electric utilities"},"content":{"rendered":"