SECURE Grid Act

The SECURE Grid Act would amend federal law to expand requirements for state energy security plans. Currently, states must submit annual State Energy Security Plans to receive funding from the federal State Energy Program. This bill would add more detailed requirements to those plans, directing states to assess specific threats to local power distribution systems and substations, risks from increasing electricity demand, available technologies to address these threats, and the distinctions between weather-related and intentional physical attacks. States would also need to evaluate public-private partnerships and innovative financing models that could help strengthen grid security while potentially saving taxpayer dollars.

The bill addresses growing concerns about the vulnerability of local electrical infrastructure to extreme weather, cyberattacks, and physical threats. By requiring more comprehensive planning at the state level, the legislation aims to help communities better prepare for and respond to disruptions that could affect essential services like hospitals, heating systems, and refrigeration. The bill does not authorize new federal funding but builds on existing State Energy Program requirements. It currently is under consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.