Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act

Discussed grid security issues, including implementation of the mandatory cyber incident reporting legislation (included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471)) by the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA) and the need to avoid duplicative or conflicting reporting requirements. Discussed the need for DHS CISA to undertake a careful and deliberative implementation process that takes into account existing reporting mandates and to appropriately tailor reporting mandates commensurate with risk to national security. Discussed H.R. 9234, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed concerns with section 5207 in the House-passed Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 7900) on the establishment of systemically importance critical entities. Discussed potential amendments to H.R. 7776, the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, on establishing a threat analysis center at the Department of Energy and on establishing a national risk management cycle. Discussed how public power utilities can work with the Department of Homeland Security on critical infrastructure issues and grid security. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed support for the Department of Energy temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed efforts at the Department of Energy to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis, including President Bidens declaration to use the Defense Production Act. Discussed the need for appropriations for the Defense Production Act to help address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis, Fiscal Year 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, possible disaster supplemental bill, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Discussed S. 4626, Facilitating the Reshoring for Energy Grid Component Manufacturing Act (all provisions). Discussed the importance of hydropower as a source of renewable energy for public power utilities. Discussed H.R. 9300, the Preventing Unnecessary Deaths During Life-Threatening Emergencies Act, to prohibit the shutoff of electric service during extreme weather events (all provisions). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability, among other things. Provided feedback on draft legislation, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022, to improve the federal permitting process for energy infrastructure, with a specific focus on the transmission provisions and their potential impact on public power utilities (no bill number). Discussed the Department of Energys reorganization. Provided feedback on draft legislation (all parts), the Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act (no bill number). Discussed efforts to improve and strengthen the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Discussed implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how public power utilities may benefit from the cybersecurity, grid resilience, broadband, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle provisions, as well as the research, development, and demonstration programs at the Department of Energy for energy technologies.