Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act

Discussed S. 3688, Energy Infrastructure Protection Ac of 2020. Discussed S. 4795, the Cyber Sense Act. Expressed support for House consideration of H.R. 359, the Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act; H.R. 360, the Cyber Sense Act of 2020; and H.R. 362, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed the electric utility industry's efforts to protect the grid and its close work with the federal government on cyber and physical security through the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council. Discussed support for potential Crow amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on defense critical electric infrastructure (H.R. 6395). Discussed opposition to the Richmond amendment to the House NDAA bill that would require mandatory cyber incident reporting. Discussed support for Bacon amendment to the House NDAA bill to protect facilities with defense critical electric infrastructure. Discussed King amendment on cyber exercise to the Senate National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. 4049). Discussed efforts by the electric utility sector to ensure electric service during the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts undertaken to protect utility workers, obtain testing for key utility personnel, and the need for personal protective equipment for key utility personnel. Also discussed contact tracing for utilities. Discussed APPAs cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-OE-0000811), Improving the Cyber Resiliency and Security Posture of Public Power, and how APPA is using funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed funding through the Department of Energys Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response to develop and deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for distribution and municipal utilities. Discussed the impact of COVID-19 on public power utilities and how they were dealing with the pandemic from an operational standpoint; discussed what public power utilities are doing on customer shutoffs during the pandemic; discussed language to establish a federal moratoria on utility shutoffs and prevent the collection of debt included in H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. Discussed the creation of a forgivable loan program to assist public power utilities negatively impacted by COVID-19. Discussed priorities for inclusion in coronavirus relief legislation - forgivable loan program, restoration of advance refunding bonds, increasing the small-issuer exception, increased funding for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), making emergency supplemental appropriations for the Power Marketing Administrations non-reimbursable; and providing public power utilities with comparable incentives for various energy-related tax credits. H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act; H.R. 925, the HEROES Act; and the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act. Discussed the use of Coronavirus Relief Funds allocated under the CARES Act (Pub. Law 116-136) for utility customer assistance programs. Discussed support for increased funding for Coronavirus Relief Funds and more flexibility in the use of such funds. Discussed S. 4362, the Emergency Water and Energy Is a Human Right Act. Discussed the public power business model. Discussed draft legislation - the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act. Discussed support for S. 2657, the American Energy Innovation Act. Discussed impact of Hurricane Laura on public power utility in Louisiana. Discussed H.R. 3079, the Energy Savings through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019. Discussed views on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Cybersecurity Incentives. Discussed cybersecurity issues at public power communities that also provide water service. Discussed the following FERC dockets/matters - Transmission Incentives Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PL 19-3-00) (RM20-10); Resource Adequacy and Capacity Markets (no docket); Performance Metrics (AD19-16); and Notice of Inquiry in RM 20-12 relating to coordinated cyber-attacks.

Client expense: $220,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

Propose changes to S. 4362 - Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act regarding timing of water shut offs, shifting of cost burdens and expanded eligibility for plumbing repairs.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Develop modifications to the Low Income Water Assistance Program in the HEROES Act (H.R. 2869); review and monitor S. 4362 - Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE