The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking comments from the public to inform decisions on how to use $250 million in funding to boost cybersecurity for rural, municipal and small investor-owned electric utilities.
According to an Oct. 20 news release, DOE issued a request for information to seek public opinion for the $250 million Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program. The program will seek to boost cybersecurity for eligible rural and municipal utilities to strengthen their response and improve resilience to cybersecurity threats.
“Rural and municipal utilities provide power for a large portion of low- and moderate-income families across the nation and play a critical role in ensuring the economic security of our nation’s energy supply,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in the release. “This new program reflects the Biden administration's commitment to improving energy reliability and connecting our nation’s rural communities to resilient energy infrastructure and the transformative benefits that come with it.”
Funding for the program is provided through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be provided over a span of five years, according to the release.
The RMUC program will be managed by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, the release reported.
