Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

This bill would reauthorize and update a federal program that provides grants, technical assistance, and funding to rural electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, and small investor-owned utilities to protect their systems against cyberattacks. The program would help these smaller utilities deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies and participate in threat information sharing networks. Eligible entities include rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and investor-owned utilities that sell less than 4 million megawatt hours of electricity annually.

The bill would extend the program through 2030 and authorize $250 million in appropriations. It aims to address the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure by ensuring that smaller utilities, which often lack the resources of larger utilities, have access to modern cybersecurity tools and expert support. The legislation also streamlines the application process for financial assistance to make it easier for small and rural utilities to access funding. If enacted, the bill would help protect the electrical systems that communities depend on for power and other essential services.