Congress looks to revive critical cyber program for rural electric utilities

The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a package of bipartisan cybersecurity bills targeting the energy sector, including a reauthorization that provides $250 million in additional grants over five years for the DOE's Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity program, consolidation of cybersecurity leadership in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, and requirements for states to include cybersecurity in energy plans; lawmakers cited growing nation-state threats such as China-linked 'Volt Typhoon' and the need to bolster underfunded rural utilities.