Cybersecurity Policy Report, Bipartisan Senate Bill Would Reauthorize Cyber Grants for Small Electric Utilities, (Aug 10, 2026)
Organizations Mentioned:National Rural Electric Cooperative Association | Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association
A federal grant program to help small electric utilities improve their cyber defenses would be reauthorized under bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate.
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (S.B. 5360, 119th Cong. (2026)) was introduced by Sens. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.), John Hickenlooper (D., Colo.), John Hoeven (R., N.D.), John Curtis (R., Utah), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D., Nev.).
The bill would renew an expired cybersecurity grant program originally created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would authorize the Department of Energy to provide $250 million through 2030 through the department’s Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, according to the bill’s text. Eligible grant recipients would include electric cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, and small investor-owned electric utilities.
Companion legislation, HR 7266, cleared the House in June (CPR, June 30).
“America’s electric grid is a critical piece of our national security, and every utility—regardless of size or location—must have the resources to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats,” Sen. McCormick said in a news release.
“Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities serve millions of Americans, including communities across Pennsylvania, but often operate with fewer cybersecurity resources than larger utilities. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure they have the support they need to protect our energy infrastructure and keep the lights on,” he added.
The bill was endorsed by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, Pennsylvania Municipal Electric Association, American Public Power Association, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
“Cyber threats to America’s electric grid are growing more sophisticated by the day, and rural utilities depend on their partnerships with the government to help keep the grid secure,” NRECA Chief Executive Officer Jim Matheson said.
“The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Program is closing the resource gap and equipping electric cooperatives with the tools they need to protect the electrical infrastructure on which millions of Americans depend,” Mr. Matheson said. “We’re grateful for the leadership of Senators McCormick, Curtis, Hickenlooper, Hoeven, and Cortez Masto in introducing this reauthorization.”
News: FederalLegislation DataSecurity