CORRY MARSHALL

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed H.R. 4167, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed support for the Department of Energy Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program (P.L. 117-58, sections 40101, 40103, and 40107). Discussed ways to improve DOE outreach to smaller and rural utilities. Discussed the importance of ensuring federal agencies tasked with awarding competitive loans and grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) are providing smaller utilities with the tools they need to apply for such funding, as well as distributing funding to public power utilities. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, and amendments to the legislation. Discussed H.R. 1389, the Guaranteeing Reliable Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to ensure electric system reliability. Discussed H.R. 5551, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation conducting a study on interregional transfer capability as directed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). Discussed the Department of Energy's transmission efforts, including its efforts to improve the siting and permitting of transmission and restarting of its program for national interest corridors. Discussed the need for permitting reform to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet emissions reduction goals. Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to streamline processes but not include transmission-related language that would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over cost allocation and potentially saddle public power utilities with additional transmission costs. Discussion of potential legislation on artificial intelligence (no bill). Discussed the potential use of artificial intelligence by electric utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act, and the potential impact its provisions could have on public power utilities, if enacted (no bill).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed the exemption in section 224 of the Communications Act that precludes Federal Communications Commission regulation of public power pole attachments. Expressed opposition to any attempt to repeal or weaken the exemption. Discussed concerns with electric customers being forced to subsidize for-profit communications companies. Provided feedback on draft legislation, the FAIR Poles Act (all provisions), to link receipt of broadband funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) to fixed federal pole attachment rates. Discussed support for H.R. 2552, the Community Broadband Act of 2023, to enable public power utilities to provide or assist in providing broadband services.

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed H.R. 4167, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed support for the Department of Energy Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program (P.L. 117-58, sections 40101, 40103, and 40107). Discussed ways to improve DOE outreach to smaller and rural utilities. Discussed the importance of ensuring federal agencies tasked with awarding competitive loans and grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) are providing smaller utilities with the tools they need to apply for such funding, as well as distributing funding to public power utilities. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, and amendments to the legislation. Discussed H.R. 1389, the Guaranteeing Reliable Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to ensure electric system reliability. Discussed H.R. 5551, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation conducting a study on interregional transfer capability as directed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). Discussed the Department of Energy's transmission efforts, including its efforts to improve the siting and permitting of transmission and restarting of its program for national interest corridors. Discussed the need for permitting reform to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet emissions reduction goals. Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to streamline processes but not include transmission-related language that would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over cost allocation and potentially saddle public power utilities with additional transmission costs. Discussion of potential legislation on artificial intelligence (no bill). Discussed the potential use of artificial intelligence by electric utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act, and the potential impact its provisions could have on public power utilities, if enacted (no bill).

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed H.R. 4167, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed support for the Department of Energy Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program (P.L. 117-58, sections 40101, 40103, and 40107). Discussed ways to improve DOE outreach to smaller and rural utilities. Discussed the importance of ensuring federal agencies tasked with awarding competitive loans and grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) are providing smaller utilities with the tools they need to apply for such funding, as well as distributing funding to public power utilities. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, and amendments to the legislation. Discussed H.R. 1389, the Guaranteeing Reliable Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to ensure electric system reliability. Discussed H.R. 5551, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation conducting a study on interregional transfer capability as directed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). Discussed the Department of Energy's transmission efforts, including its efforts to improve the siting and permitting of transmission and restarting of its program for national interest corridors. Discussed the need for permitting reform to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet emissions reduction goals. Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to streamline processes but not include transmission-related language that would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over cost allocation and potentially saddle public power utilities with additional transmission costs. Discussion of potential legislation on artificial intelligence (no bill). Discussed the potential use of artificial intelligence by electric utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act, and the potential impact its provisions could have on public power utilities, if enacted (no bill).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed concerns with third-party efforts to remove the Lower Snake River Dams and the importance of hydropower (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4219, the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) Fund Establishment Act. Discussed Columbia River Settlement Agreement and concerns with the potential impact of breaching the Lower Snake River dams on hydropower production, meeting clean energy goals, and grid reliability (no legislation). Discussed draft legislation, the Hydropower Delivery Rate-reduction Offset (HYDRO) Act. Discussed Endangered Species Act reform, with focus on the consultation process between agencies and outside organizations (no bill).

Discussed including funding in S. 2443, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed potential legislation to extend sequestration under the Budget Control Act (no bill). Discussed potential legislation to exempt payments to issuers of direct payment bonds from sequestration under the Budget Control Act. Discussed a proposed amendment to H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, on energy sector cybersecurity.

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed H.R. 4167, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed support for the Department of Energy Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program (P.L. 117-58, sections 40101, 40103, and 40107). Discussed ways to improve DOE outreach to smaller and rural utilities. Discussed the importance of ensuring federal agencies tasked with awarding competitive loans and grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) are providing smaller utilities with the tools they need to apply for such funding, as well as distributing funding to public power utilities. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, and amendments to the legislation. Discussed H.R. 1389, the Guaranteeing Reliable Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to ensure electric system reliability. Discussed H.R. 5551, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation conducting a study on interregional transfer capability as directed under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5). Discussed the Department of Energy's transmission efforts, including its efforts to improve the siting and permitting of transmission and restarting of its program for national interest corridors. Discussed the need for permitting reform to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet emissions reduction goals. Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to streamline processes but not include transmission-related language that would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over cost allocation and potentially saddle public power utilities with additional transmission costs. Discussion of potential legislation on artificial intelligence (no bill). Discussed the potential use of artificial intelligence by electric utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act, and the potential impact its provisions could have on public power utilities, if enacted (no bill).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed how strong industry-government partnerships should be supported to prevent, prepare for, and respond to cybersecurity attacks. Discussed how the federal government should play a greater role in helping electric utilities in assessing vendor cybersecurity practices, such as establishing a federal vendor certification or accreditation program. Discussed how Congress should refrain from imposing additional cyber incident reporting mandates until the Cybersecurity Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) is fully implemented. Provided feedback on H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to direct state public utility commissions to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed funding opportunities under the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant Program. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis, including President Bidens declaration to use the Defense Production Act. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed need for increased domestic manufacturing of equipment for electric utilities. Discussed H.R. 763, the Supply CHAINS Act, and if the legislation could help address the distribution transformer supply chain issue. Discussed draft legislation, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent DOE from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed public power utility access to additional funding for loans for renewable energy created under the Inflation Reduction Act (Pub. Law 117-169), section 22001. Discussed concerns with the DOEs draft guidance to implement section 247 (Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectric Incentives) in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)(P.L. 117-58). Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of hydropower to rural public power communities. Provided feedback on unintroduced, updated version of legislation from the 117th Congress, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability, among other things (all provisions). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Provided feedback on draft legislation, the Clean Electricity Transmission Acceleration Act (all provisions), to direct FERC to determine the existing electricity transfer capacity between regions and to establish minimum levels of transfer capabilities between each region, and to require each transmission planning region to coordinate with its neighbors to plan for the required interregional transmission. Provided feedback on draft permitting reform legislation, the Building American Energy Security Act of 2023 (provisions on transmission). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the CHARGE Act, to promote transmission (all provisions). Discussed concerns with overly broad definitions of the benefits of transmission that would result in utilities and their customers paying for transmission projects from which they derive no benefit. Also discussed the importance of keeping costs affordable for customers. Discussed the importance of keeping rates affordable as new transmission infrastructure is developed. Discussed the importance of joint ownership opportunities for public power utilities as new transmission projects are being built. Discussed the importance of containing costs for customers for building new transmission to accommodate a changing resource mix and to promote reliability and resilience. Discussed concerns with language to set minimum interregional transfer capability between regions being included transmission legislation (no specific bill). Discussed the importance of permitting reform to help build clean energy infrastructure, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Discussed public power programs to promote demand response. Discussed the domestic content requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Build America requirements in the IIJA, specifically the unique rules that apply to public power and the co-ops. Discussed ensuring the U.S. has adequate natural gas pipeline infrastructure needed for electric reliability. Discussed the public power business model. Discussed how public power utilities are deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their communities.

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed including funding in S. 2443, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed potential legislation to extend sequestration under the Budget Control Act (no bill). Discussed potential legislation to exempt payments to issuers of direct payment bonds from sequestration under the Budget Control Act. Discussed a proposed amendment to H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, on energy sector cybersecurity.

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the Cyber Incident Reporting Council report released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that outlines steps the federal government should take to streamline its incident reporting regulations. Expressed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to impose cybersecurity baseline standards on distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed proposed amendments to S. 2226, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act - #312 - assessment of existing large power transformers; #249 - study on energy resilience and reliability posture of military departments; #706 - Federal Information and Security Modernization Act of 2023. Discussed S. 914, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Establishment Act of 2023, to establish an energy threat analysis center within the Department of Energy (all provisions). Discussed S. 934, a bill to amend the DOE Organization Act to assign certain functions to the Assistant Secretaries of Energy relating to energy emergencies and energy security, and for other purposes. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed distribution transformer standardization efforts. Discussed efforts to gather further data on distribution transformer shortage. Discussed draft legislation to raise energy efficiency standards for certain types of distribution transformers. Discussed draft legislation, the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Discussed H.R. 4167/S. 2036, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent the Department of Energy from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Expressed concerns with the DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program application requirements, particularly for smaller utilities with limited resources. Provided feedback on how DOE should make the process simpler, more transparent, and provide assistance and support for small and/or rural public power applicants. Discussed public power utilities experiences with applying for Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants, including the GRIP program. Discussion of concerns with domestic content requirements in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. Law 117-58) and how they make it too difficult for public power utilities to access the grants. Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement Act, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed support for H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed support for S. 2994, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation, the Grid Reliability and Integrated Data Act (all provisions), which could require new and mandatory data collection from utilities, especially smaller utilities. Discussed draft legislation, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability and establish thresholds for interregional transfer capability (all provisions). Discussed opposition to efforts to reform permitting, siting, and cost allocation processes for electric transmission that significantly expand federal authority or change the beneficiary pays principle (no bill). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed support for provisions in H.R. 1577, the BUILDER Act of 2023, to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, that were also included in H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. No. 118-5).

Discussed grid security issues, including implementation of mandatory cyber incident reporting legislation (included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103)) by the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration (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 how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed how the federal government should play a greater role in helping electric utilities in assessing vendor cybersecurity practices, such as establishing a federal vendor certification or accreditation program. Discussed concerns with H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to direct state public utility commissions to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed public powers cybersecurity needs, capabilities, and priorities as the Department of Energy (DOE) works to implement the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant Program. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis, including President Bidens declaration to use the Defense Production Act. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed the creation of a transformer manufacturing loan program (no legislation). Discussed need for increased domestic manufacturing of equipment for electric utilities. Discussed FERC-DOE technical conference on supply chain risk management (Docket AD22-12). Discussed the importance of hydropower as a source of renewable energy for public power utilities. Discussed the importance of hydropower for grid reliability. Provided feedback on unintroduced, updated version of legislation from the 117th Congress, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability, among other things (all provisions). Provided feedback on FERC-related bills from the 117th Congress (all provisions): the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act; the Right to Timely Rehearings at FERC Act; the Empowering RTO Stakeholders Act; the Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act; and the Responsive Energy Demand Unlocks Clean Energy (REDUCE) Act. Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Discussed the provisions in H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to reform NEPA and to make it easier to deal with hazard trees near electric infrastructure on federal lands. Discussed the development of an energy market in the West. Discussed the importance of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and potential ways to strengthen the program. Discussed implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, grid resilience, cybersecurity, and clean energy technologies will benefit public power utilities. Discussed concerns with the DOEs draft guidance to implement section 247 (Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectric Incentives) in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58). Discussed the public power business model. Discussed generation resource adequacy and the pace of electric industry change. Discussed transmission planning issues (FERC RM21-17). Discussed reliability and physical security issues (FERC Docket Nos. RD22-3; RD22-4; and RM22-12). Discussed California natural gas price spike concerns.

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy (DOE) as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed how strong industry-government partnerships should be supported to prevent, prepare for, and respond to cybersecurity attacks. Discussed how the federal government should play a greater role in helping electric utilities in assessing vendor cybersecurity practices, such as establishing a federal vendor certification or accreditation program. Discussed how Congress should refrain from imposing additional cyber incident reporting mandates until the Cybersecurity Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) is fully implemented. Provided feedback on H.R. 1160, the Critical Electric Infrastructure Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to direct state public utility commissions to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities (no bill number). Discussed efforts by DOE and other stakeholders on cybersecurity baselines for distribution utilities. Discussed funding opportunities under the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant Program. Discussed potential problems with the implementation of the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant Program at DOE (Sec. 40124(d)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) regarding the provision of technical assistance. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed efforts at DOE to address the distribution transformer supply chain crisis, including President Bidens declaration to use the Defense Production Act. Discussed concerns with the DOEs proposed energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers (EERE-2019-BT-STD-0018) and how they would worsen the distribution transformer supply chain crisis. Discussed need for increased domestic manufacturing of equipment for electric utilities. Discussed H.R. 763, the Supply CHAINS Act, and if the legislation could help address the distribution transformer supply chain issue. Discussed draft legislation, the Protecting Americas Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, to prevent DOE from proposing or enacting new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers for five years. Discussed public power utility access to additional funding for loans for renewable energy created under the Inflation Reduction Act (Pub. Law 117-169), section 22001. Discussed concerns with the DOEs draft guidance to implement section 247 (Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectric Incentives) in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)(P.L. 117-58). Discussed, S. 1521, the Community and Hydropower Improvement, and provisions giving tribes mandatory conditioning authority. Discussed the importance of hydropower to rural public power communities. Provided feedback on unintroduced, updated version of legislation from the 117th Congress, the BIG WIRES Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to require the expansion of transmission facilities for reliability, among other things (all provisions). Discussed support for permitting reform to help expedite the construction of energy infrastructure (no bill), including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and changes to the Federal Power Act to expedite the construction of transmission while not saddling public power utilities with transmission costs for which they receive no benefit. Provided feedback on draft legislation, the Clean Electricity Transmission Acceleration Act (all provisions), to direct FERC to determine the existing electricity transfer capacity between regions and to establish minimum levels of transfer capabilities between each region, and to require each transmission planning region to coordinate with its neighbors to plan for the required interregional transmission. Provided feedback on draft permitting reform legislation, the Building American Energy Security Act of 2023 (provisions on transmission). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the CHARGE Act, to promote transmission (all provisions). Discussed concerns with overly broad definitions of the benefits of transmission that would result in utilities and their customers paying for transmission projects from which they derive no benefit. Also discussed the importance of keeping costs affordable for customers. Discussed the importance of keeping rates affordable as new transmission infrastructure is developed. Discussed the importance of joint ownership opportunities for public power utilities as new transmission projects are being built. Discussed the importance of containing costs for customers for building new transmission to accommodate a changing resource mix and to promote reliability and resilience. Discussed concerns with language to set minimum interregional transfer capability between regions being included transmission legislation (no specific bill). Discussed the importance of permitting reform to help build clean energy infrastructure, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Discussed public power programs to promote demand response. Discussed the domestic content requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Build America requirements in the IIJA, specifically the unique rules that apply to public power and the co-ops. Discussed ensuring the U.S. has adequate natural gas pipeline infrastructure needed for electric reliability. Discussed the public power business model. Discussed how public power utilities are deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their communities.

Discussed S. 307, the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023. Discussed support for allowing drones to be used beyond visual-line-of-site for inspections and damage assessments of electric infrastructure. Discussed language on counter-unmanned aerials system authorities previously included in S. 4687, Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2022, from the 117th Congress, and the impacts for electric utility usage. Discussed how public power utilities are deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their communities.

Discussed S. 307, the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023. Discussed support for allowing drones to be used beyond visual-line-of-site for inspections and damage assessments of electric infrastructure. Discussed legislation from the 117th Congress, the Safeguarding the Homeland from Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2022 (sections on counter-unmanned aerial systems authorities). Discussed the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, including the eligibility of public power utilities. Discussed how public power utilities are deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their communities.

Discussed S. 307, the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023. Discussed support for allowing drones to be used beyond visual-line-of-site for inspections and damage assessments of electric infrastructure. Discussed language on counter-unmanned aerials system authorities previously included in S. 4687, Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2022, from the 117th Congress, and the impacts for electric utility usage. Discussed how public power utilities are deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their communities.

Discussed support the inclusion of provisions to provide direct pay refundable energy tax credits to public power utilities in S. 2118, the Clean Energy for America Act. Discussed support for the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to make refundable, direct pay energy tax credits available to public power utilities - subtitle F, parts 1 and 8. Discussed support for S. 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021, discussed support for the inclusion of a 30 percent tax credit to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams for qualified dam safety, environmental, and grid resilience improvements in the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act; (no bill number). Discussed support for H.R. 2288, the Investing in Our Communities Act, to restore advance refunding bonds. Discussed support for legislation to increase the small-issuer exception - H.R. 2634, the Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act. Discussed concerns with the sequestration of direct payment bonds, including Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Discussed potential legislation to waive the deficit effects of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. Law 117-2) for purposes of the Pay as You Go Act (Pub. Law 111-39) to avoid sequestration of Build America Bonds payments.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

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 draft legislation to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the impact the distribution transformer shortage could have on restoring power after hurricanes. Discussed support for Department of Energy temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed how the Department of Energy will carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how it will help public power utilities make clean energy investments. Provided feedback on draft legislation, Leveraging our Water and Energy Data to Reduce (LOWER) Energy Bills Act (no bill number), and draft legislation to establish a National Model Building Performance Standard (no bill number). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the BIDIRECTIONAL Act, to promote vehicle-to-grid technologies. Discussed draft legislation to prohibit the shutoff of electric service during extreme weather events. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act, and H.R. 6084, the Energy Product Reliability Act. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. 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. Discussed the need for permitting reform to enable the siting and construction of energy infrastructure. Provided feedback on the transmission provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 (no bill number). Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) proposed directive to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to address concerns pertaining to transmission system planning for extreme heat or cold weather events that impact the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System (RM-22-10). Discussed the cost management proposal in FERCs Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission Planning (RM-21-17). Discussed FERC regulation of public power utilities.

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 Administration (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 the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed H.R. 8053, the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense Act (GRID Act). 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 DOE temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for amending section 4251 of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, to ensure that DHS works with DOE in the event of a declaration of a significant incident and to direct DHS and DOE to clarify how a significant incident declaration could impact/interact with the declaration of a grid security emergency. Discussed announcement by the Biden Administration on the Made-in-America Federal Clean Energy Procurement Program. Discussed opposition to the creation of a new must-consider requirement under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 in H.R. 4521, the America Competes Act. Discussed concerns with a draft letter to FERC on demand charges for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Discussed electric utilities role in EV charger deployment, including the ability for the electric industry to handle new demand and the importance of working with utilities to right-size projects. Provided feedback on draft legislation on electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid charging technology. Discussed upcoming federal guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program and public power EV efforts. Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process. Discussed the Uncommon Dialogue effort to improve the licensing and relicensing process for hydroelectric facilities. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed possible amendment to the Natural Gas Act to allow for natural gas price emergency declaration. Discussed DOEs Implementation of the DOE National Transmission Planning Study (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), including the importance of having a public power representative and nominating a member to serve on the Study Technical Review Committee Modeling Subcommittee. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission (RM-21-17). Discussed S. 3879, the CHARGE Act. Discussed the October Technical Conference on Transmission Planning and Cost Management (AD 22-8). Discussed the impact of MISO capacity auction results on public power utilities.

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.

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 potential legislation to wave PAYGO sequestration of direct payment bonds and refundable tax credits. Discussed provision to delay PAYGO sequestration in H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Discussed support for including supplemental appropriations for Western Area Power Administration to help address drought in H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023

Discussed support the inclusion of provisions to provide direct pay refundable energy tax credits to public power utilities in S. 2118, the Clean Energy for America Act. Discussed support for the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to make refundable, direct pay energy tax credits available to public power utilities - subtitle F, parts 1 and 8. Discussed support for S. 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021, discussed support for the inclusion of a 30 percent tax credit to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams for qualified dam safety, environmental, and grid resilience improvements in the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act; (no bill number). Discussed support for H.R. 2288, the Investing in Our Communities Act, to restore advance refunding bonds. Discussed support for legislation to increase the small-issuer exception - H.R. 2634, the Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act. Discussed concerns with the sequestration of direct payment bonds, including Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Discussed potential legislation to waive the deficit effects of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. Law 117-2) for purposes of the Pay as You Go Act (Pub. Law 111-39) to avoid sequestration of Build America Bonds payments.

Discussed the development of the upcoming 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (no bill number); also discussed potential Buy America provisions in the bill. Discussed the importance of the Power Marketing Administrations/Army Corps of Engineers hydropower program for public power utilities and the electric grid. Discussed support for the Power Marketing Administrations and the need to protect their statutory mission. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing reform. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams; markets; rates; and finances. Discussed the Western drought situation and the associated operational and financial challenges it poses to preference power. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and from H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act - and how to fix it in the upcoming WRDA (no bill number, no draft). Discussed the problem of rising joint costs assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the Power Marketing Administrations and federal hydropower customers. Discussed the need to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower).

Discussed the development of the upcoming 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (no bill number); also discussed potential Buy America provisions in the bill. Discussed the importance of the Power Marketing Administrations/Army Corps of Engineers hydropower program for public power utilities and the electric grid. Discussed support for the Power Marketing Administrations and the need to protect their statutory mission. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing reform. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams; markets; rates; and finances. Discussed the Western drought situation and the associated operational and financial challenges it poses to preference power. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and from H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act - and how to fix it in the upcoming WRDA (no bill number, no draft). Discussed the problem of rising joint costs assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the Power Marketing Administrations and federal hydropower customers. Discussed the need to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower).

Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable electric vehicles (EVs), including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed the use of drones by electric utilities for operations.

Discussed public powers concerns with the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) included in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to require electric utilities to increase their percentage of clean electricity and the likely inability of many public power utilities to meet the annual compliance obligations. Discussed public powers support for legislation to address climate change, including potential legislation to create a clean energy standard and what such legislation would need to include to ensure electricity remains affordable, reliable, and sustainable. Discussed support for a new statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to address climate change. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their GHG emissions. Discussed policy considerations the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should take into account when developing its proposed rule to regulate GHG emissions from the power sector (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed how EPA should approach designing and harmonizing its rules to facilitate the clean energy transition to technologies that will benefit the countrys public health and environment (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed what federal agencies EPA should coordinate with as it develops regulations for the power sector (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) docket EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0602 on the Revised Definition of Waters of the United States - Rule 1 and its potential impact on public power utilities. Discussed H.R. 4143, the Clean Energy Future Through Innovation Act - provisions to create a federal clean energy standard.

Discussed support for additional funding for EPAs federal and state coal combustion residuals permit programs in the fiscal year 2023 Interior Appropriations bill (no bill yet). Discussed funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in H.R. 4502, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022.

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 Administration (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 the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed H.R. 8053, the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense Act (GRID Act). 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 DOE temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for amending section 4251 of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, to ensure that DHS works with DOE in the event of a declaration of a significant incident and to direct DHS and DOE to clarify how a significant incident declaration could impact/interact with the declaration of a grid security emergency. Discussed announcement by the Biden Administration on the Made-in-America Federal Clean Energy Procurement Program. Discussed opposition to the creation of a new must-consider requirement under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 in H.R. 4521, the America Competes Act. Discussed concerns with a draft letter to FERC on demand charges for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Discussed electric utilities role in EV charger deployment, including the ability for the electric industry to handle new demand and the importance of working with utilities to right-size projects. Provided feedback on draft legislation on electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid charging technology. Discussed upcoming federal guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program and public power EV efforts. Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process. Discussed the Uncommon Dialogue effort to improve the licensing and relicensing process for hydroelectric facilities. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed possible amendment to the Natural Gas Act to allow for natural gas price emergency declaration. Discussed DOEs Implementation of the DOE National Transmission Planning Study (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), including the importance of having a public power representative and nominating a member to serve on the Study Technical Review Committee Modeling Subcommittee. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission (RM-21-17). Discussed S. 3879, the CHARGE Act. Discussed the October Technical Conference on Transmission Planning and Cost Management (AD 22-8). Discussed the impact of MISO capacity auction results on public power utilities.

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 draft legislation to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the impact the distribution transformer shortage could have on restoring power after hurricanes. Discussed support for Department of Energy temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed how the Department of Energy will carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how it will help public power utilities make clean energy investments. Provided feedback on draft legislation, Leveraging our Water and Energy Data to Reduce (LOWER) Energy Bills Act (no bill number), and draft legislation to establish a National Model Building Performance Standard (no bill number). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the BIDIRECTIONAL Act, to promote vehicle-to-grid technologies. Discussed draft legislation to prohibit the shutoff of electric service during extreme weather events. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act, and H.R. 6084, the Energy Product Reliability Act. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. 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. Discussed the need for permitting reform to enable the siting and construction of energy infrastructure. Provided feedback on the transmission provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 (no bill number). Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) proposed directive to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to address concerns pertaining to transmission system planning for extreme heat or cold weather events that impact the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System (RM-22-10). Discussed the cost management proposal in FERCs Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission Planning (RM-21-17). Discussed FERC regulation of public power utilities.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed support the inclusion of provisions to provide direct pay refundable energy tax credits to public power utilities in S. 2118, the Clean Energy for America Act. Discussed support for the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to make refundable, direct pay energy tax credits available to public power utilities - subtitle F, parts 1 and 8. Discussed support for S. 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021, discussed support for the inclusion of a 30 percent tax credit to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams for qualified dam safety, environmental, and grid resilience improvements in the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act; (no bill number). Discussed support for H.R. 2288, the Investing in Our Communities Act, to restore advance refunding bonds. Discussed support for legislation to increase the small-issuer exception - H.R. 2634, the Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act. Discussed concerns with the sequestration of direct payment bonds, including Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Discussed potential legislation to waive the deficit effects of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. Law 117-2) for purposes of the Pay as You Go Act (Pub. Law 111-39) to avoid sequestration of Build America Bonds payments.

Discussed public powers concerns with the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) included in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to require electric utilities to increase their percentage of clean electricity and the likely inability of many public power utilities to meet the annual compliance obligations. Discussed public powers support for legislation to address climate change, including potential legislation to create a clean energy standard and what such legislation would need to include to ensure electricity remains affordable, reliable, and sustainable. Discussed support for a new statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to address climate change. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their GHG emissions. Discussed policy considerations the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should take into account when developing its proposed rule to regulate GHG emissions from the power sector (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed how EPA should approach designing and harmonizing its rules to facilitate the clean energy transition to technologies that will benefit the countrys public health and environment (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed what federal agencies EPA should coordinate with as it develops regulations for the power sector (RIN No. 2060-AV10; rules on Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines; environmental justice activities, and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update (EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0272)). Discussed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) docket EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0602 on the Revised Definition of Waters of the United States - Rule 1 and its potential impact on public power utilities. Discussed H.R. 4143, the Clean Energy Future Through Innovation Act - provisions to create a federal clean energy standard.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

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 draft legislation to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the impact the distribution transformer shortage could have on restoring power after hurricanes. Discussed support for Department of Energy temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed how the Department of Energy will carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how it will help public power utilities make clean energy investments. Provided feedback on draft legislation, Leveraging our Water and Energy Data to Reduce (LOWER) Energy Bills Act (no bill number), and draft legislation to establish a National Model Building Performance Standard (no bill number). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the BIDIRECTIONAL Act, to promote vehicle-to-grid technologies. Discussed draft legislation to prohibit the shutoff of electric service during extreme weather events. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act, and H.R. 6084, the Energy Product Reliability Act. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. 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. Discussed the need for permitting reform to enable the siting and construction of energy infrastructure. Provided feedback on the transmission provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 (no bill number). Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) proposed directive to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to address concerns pertaining to transmission system planning for extreme heat or cold weather events that impact the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System (RM-22-10). Discussed the cost management proposal in FERCs Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission Planning (RM-21-17). Discussed FERC regulation of public power utilities.

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 draft legislation to establish cybersecurity baselines for distribution 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed industry-wide distribution transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the impact the distribution transformer shortage could have on restoring power after hurricanes. Discussed support for Department of Energy temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed how the Department of Energy will carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and how it will help public power utilities make clean energy investments. Provided feedback on draft legislation, Leveraging our Water and Energy Data to Reduce (LOWER) Energy Bills Act (no bill number), and draft legislation to establish a National Model Building Performance Standard (no bill number). Provided feedback on draft legislation, the BIDIRECTIONAL Act, to promote vehicle-to-grid technologies. Discussed draft legislation to prohibit the shutoff of electric service during extreme weather events. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act, and H.R. 6084, the Energy Product Reliability Act. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. 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. Discussed the need for permitting reform to enable the siting and construction of energy infrastructure. Provided feedback on the transmission provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 (no bill number). Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) proposed directive to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to address concerns pertaining to transmission system planning for extreme heat or cold weather events that impact the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System (RM-22-10). Discussed the cost management proposal in FERCs Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission Planning (RM-21-17). Discussed FERC regulation of public power utilities.

Discussed support for language to fiscal year 2023 appropriations (no bill number) to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed funding for the Department of Energy for use to carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. (Title III) in H.R. 8255/S. 4660, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023. Discussed support for supplemental funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023.

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.

Advocated for the President to take actions to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower). Discussed status of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations. Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed support for amendment to S. 4137, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed support for amendment to H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing and relicensing reform. Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams, markets, rates, and finances. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and from P.L. 117-43, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. Discussed potential legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting.

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.

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 Administration (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 the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed H.R. 8053, the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense Act (GRID Act). 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 DOE temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for amending section 4251 of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, to ensure that DHS works with DOE in the event of a declaration of a significant incident and to direct DHS and DOE to clarify how a significant incident declaration could impact/interact with the declaration of a grid security emergency. Discussed announcement by the Biden Administration on the Made-in-America Federal Clean Energy Procurement Program. Discussed opposition to the creation of a new must-consider requirement under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 in H.R. 4521, the America Competes Act. Discussed concerns with a draft letter to FERC on demand charges for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Discussed electric utilities role in EV charger deployment, including the ability for the electric industry to handle new demand and the importance of working with utilities to right-size projects. Provided feedback on draft legislation on electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid charging technology. Discussed upcoming federal guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program and public power EV efforts. Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process. Discussed the Uncommon Dialogue effort to improve the licensing and relicensing process for hydroelectric facilities. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed possible amendment to the Natural Gas Act to allow for natural gas price emergency declaration. Discussed DOEs Implementation of the DOE National Transmission Planning Study (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), including the importance of having a public power representative and nominating a member to serve on the Study Technical Review Committee Modeling Subcommittee. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission (RM-21-17). Discussed S. 3879, the CHARGE Act. Discussed the October Technical Conference on Transmission Planning and Cost Management (AD 22-8). Discussed the impact of MISO capacity auction results on public power utilities.

Discussed support for language to fiscal year 2023 appropriations (no bill number) to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed funding for the Department of Energy for use to carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. (Title III) in H.R. 8255/S. 4660, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023. Discussed support for supplemental funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023.

Discussed support for additional funding for EPAs federal and state coal combustion residuals permit programs in H.R. 8262, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 (no bill yet in Senate).

Provided feedback on the permitting reform provisions in H.R. 9087, the Transparency and Production (TAP) of American Energy Act. Discussed support for draft legislation to address costs assigned with declining hydropower production on the Colorado River (no bill number). Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed the importance of the federal Power Marketing Administrations that provide federal hydropower to public power utilities. Discussed the problem of rising joint costs assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the Power Marketing Administrations and their federal hydropower customers. Discussed declining hydropower production in the desert Southwest and resulting increased costs for public power utilities.

Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed support for S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting. Discussed H.R. 9087, the Transparency and Production (TAP) of American Energy 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.

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.

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 Administration (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 the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed H.R. 8053, the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense Act (GRID Act). 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 DOE temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for amending section 4251 of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, to ensure that DHS works with DOE in the event of a declaration of a significant incident and to direct DHS and DOE to clarify how a significant incident declaration could impact/interact with the declaration of a grid security emergency. Discussed announcement by the Biden Administration on the Made-in-America Federal Clean Energy Procurement Program. Discussed opposition to the creation of a new must-consider requirement under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 in H.R. 4521, the America Competes Act. Discussed concerns with a draft letter to FERC on demand charges for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Discussed electric utilities role in EV charger deployment, including the ability for the electric industry to handle new demand and the importance of working with utilities to right-size projects. Provided feedback on draft legislation on electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid charging technology. Discussed upcoming federal guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program and public power EV efforts. Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process. Discussed the Uncommon Dialogue effort to improve the licensing and relicensing process for hydroelectric facilities. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed possible amendment to the Natural Gas Act to allow for natural gas price emergency declaration. Discussed DOEs Implementation of the DOE National Transmission Planning Study (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), including the importance of having a public power representative and nominating a member to serve on the Study Technical Review Committee Modeling Subcommittee. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission (RM-21-17). Discussed S. 3879, the CHARGE Act. Discussed the October Technical Conference on Transmission Planning and Cost Management (AD 22-8). Discussed the impact of MISO capacity auction results on public power utilities.

Discussed support the inclusion of provisions to provide direct pay refundable energy tax credits to public power utilities in S. 2118, the Clean Energy for America Act. Discussed support for the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to make refundable, direct pay energy tax credits available to public power utilities - subtitle F, parts 1 and 8. Discussed support for S. 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021, discussed support for the inclusion of a 30 percent tax credit to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams for qualified dam safety, environmental, and grid resilience improvements in the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act; (no bill number). Discussed support for H.R. 2288, the Investing in Our Communities Act, to restore advance refunding bonds. Discussed support for legislation to increase the small-issuer exception - H.R. 2634, the Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act. Discussed concerns with the sequestration of direct payment bonds, including Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Discussed potential legislation to waive the deficit effects of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. Law 117-2) for purposes of the Pay as You Go Act (Pub. Law 111-39) to avoid sequestration of Build America Bonds payments.

Discussed support the inclusion of provisions to provide direct pay refundable energy tax credits to public power utilities in S. 2118, the Clean Energy for America Act. Discussed support for the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, to make refundable, direct pay energy tax credits available to public power utilities - subtitle F, parts 1 and 8. Discussed support for S. 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021, discussed support for the inclusion of a 30 percent tax credit to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric dams for qualified dam safety, environmental, and grid resilience improvements in the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act; (no bill number). Discussed support for H.R. 2288, the Investing in Our Communities Act, to restore advance refunding bonds. Discussed support for legislation to increase the small-issuer exception - H.R. 2634, the Local Infrastructure Financing Tools Act. Discussed concerns with the sequestration of direct payment bonds, including Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds. Discussed potential legislation to waive the deficit effects of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. Law 117-2) for purposes of the Pay as You Go Act (Pub. Law 111-39) to avoid sequestration of Build America Bonds payments.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed support for S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed draft legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting. Discussed H.R. 9087, the Transparency and Production (TAP) of American Energy Act.

Advocated for the President to take actions to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower). Discussed status of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations. Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed support for amendment to S. 4137, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed support for amendment to H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing and relicensing reform. Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams, markets, rates, and finances. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and from P.L. 117-43, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. Discussed potential legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting.

Discussed the development of the upcoming 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (no bill number); also discussed potential Buy America provisions in the bill. Discussed the importance of the Power Marketing Administrations/Army Corps of Engineers hydropower program for public power utilities and the electric grid. Discussed support for the Power Marketing Administrations and the need to protect their statutory mission. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing reform. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams; markets; rates; and finances. Discussed the Western drought situation and the associated operational and financial challenges it poses to preference power. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and from H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act - and how to fix it in the upcoming WRDA (no bill number, no draft). Discussed the problem of rising joint costs assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the Power Marketing Administrations and federal hydropower customers. Discussed the need to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower).

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 Administration (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 the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed H.R. 8053, the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense Act (GRID Act). 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 DOE temporarily waiving distribution transformer energy efficiency standards to help spread raw steel materials and increase production volumes. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed support for amending section 4251 of S. 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, to ensure that DHS works with DOE in the event of a declaration of a significant incident and to direct DHS and DOE to clarify how a significant incident declaration could impact/interact with the declaration of a grid security emergency. Discussed announcement by the Biden Administration on the Made-in-America Federal Clean Energy Procurement Program. Discussed opposition to the creation of a new must-consider requirement under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 in H.R. 4521, the America Competes Act. Discussed concerns with a draft letter to FERC on demand charges for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Discussed electric utilities role in EV charger deployment, including the ability for the electric industry to handle new demand and the importance of working with utilities to right-size projects. Provided feedback on draft legislation on electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid charging technology. Discussed upcoming federal guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program and public power EV efforts. Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process. Discussed the Uncommon Dialogue effort to improve the licensing and relicensing process for hydroelectric facilities. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Discussed possible amendment to the Natural Gas Act to allow for natural gas price emergency declaration. Discussed DOEs Implementation of the DOE National Transmission Planning Study (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), including the importance of having a public power representative and nominating a member to serve on the Study Technical Review Committee Modeling Subcommittee. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Transmission (RM-21-17). Discussed S. 3879, the CHARGE Act. Discussed the October Technical Conference on Transmission Planning and Cost Management (AD 22-8). Discussed the impact of MISO capacity auction results on public power utilities.

Advocated for the President to take actions to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower). Discussed status of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations. Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed support for amendment to S. 4137, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed support for amendment to H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing and relicensing reform. Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams, markets, rates, and finances. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and from P.L. 117-43, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. Discussed potential legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting.

Provided feedback on the permitting reform provisions in H.R. 9087, the Transparency and Production (TAP) of American Energy Act. Discussed support for draft legislation to address costs assigned with declining hydropower production on the Colorado River (no bill number). Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed the importance of the federal Power Marketing Administrations that provide federal hydropower to public power utilities. Discussed the problem of rising joint costs assigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to the Power Marketing Administrations and their federal hydropower customers. Discussed declining hydropower production in the desert Southwest and resulting increased costs for public power utilities.

Advocated for the President to take actions to modernize the Columbia River Treaty (focus on hydropower). Discussed status of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations. Discussed support for S. 4232, a bill to address the recovery of certain costs with respect to certain Reclamation facilities in the Colorado River Basin. Discussed support for amendment to S. 4137, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed support for amendment to H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) and from the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed the importance of hydropower (federal and non-federal) and the need for licensing and relicensing reform. Discussed opposition to breaching the Lower Snake River Dams. Discussed S. 3719, the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act (all provisions). Discussed federal hydropower issues, including the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams, markets, rates, and finances. Discussed the anticipated increased costs to federal hydropower customers resulting from supplemental provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and from P.L. 117-43, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. Discussed potential legislation to make changes to the National Environmental Policy Act to facilitate electric transmission siting.

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.

Discussed support for language to fiscal year 2023 appropriations (no bill number) to clarify that Congress did not intend for funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 to be paid back by federal hydropower customers. Discussed funding for the Department of Energy for use to carry out Defense Production Act-related activities to accelerate domestic production of key technologies, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and deploy clean energy. (Title III) in H.R. 8255/S. 4660, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023. Discussed support for supplemental funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023.

Discussed concerns with the Federal Communication Commission's 6 GHz Report and Order (Docket/RM: 18-295, 17-183 -- Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band; Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz) and efforts to allow more unlicensed devices to operate in the spectrum band used for critical infrastructure communications. Discussed how electric utilities are using broadband technologies. Discussed the exemption in Section 224 of the Communications Act that precludes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation of public power pole attachments. Expressed opposition to any attempt to repeal or weaken the exemption.

Discussed public powers support for legislation to address climate change, including potential legislation to create a clean energy standard and what such legislation would need to include to ensure electricity remains affordable, reliable, and sustainable. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Discussed potential GHG regulations on the power sector under section 111 of the Clean Air Act. Discussed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proceeding, GHG Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources (RIN 2060-AV10); specifically discussed concerns with coordination of suite of rules impacting the power sector. Also discussed how the direct pay provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will help public power utilities invest in renewable technologies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Discussed EPA's proceeding, GHG New Source Performance Standards (2060-AV09); specifically discussed the need for regulatory flexibility to meet new source limits. Also discussed investments in new types of generation technology, such as reciprocating internal combustion engines. Discussed EPA's proceeding, Ozone Federal Implementation Plan (2040-AV51); specifically discussed concerns the proposal could have on bulk power system reliability given the lack of compliance flexibility. Also discussed the cost of emissions allowances. Discussed the need for permitting reform to enable the siting and construction of energy infrastructure. Discussed the Clean Water Act provisions (subtitle B) in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 (no bill number). Provided feedback on S.J. Res 55, A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Council on Environmental Quality relating to National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions. Discussed the potential impacts EPAs changes to the coal combustion residuals rule could have on public power utilities. Discussed legislative efforts to address environmental justice issues (no specific bills). Discussed the regulatory uncertainty created by changing rules on Waters of the United States (WOTUS), specifically on the waste treatment exclusion. Discussed revisions to WOTUS (RIN 2040-AG19), including maintaining the waste treatment exclusion. Discussed Steam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines (RIN 2040-AG23), including concerns with spending resources to comply with 2020 ELG rule when EPA anticipates changing the requirements before full implementation of 2020 ELG rule can occur. Also discussed setting wastewater discharge requirements for FGD wastewater based on membrane technology.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed bills to require cyber incident reporting by critical infrastructure sectors to the federal government - S. 2875, the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2021 (all provisions); H.R. 5440, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 2407, the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021 (all provisions); S. 3600, the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (all provisions); and H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (cyber incident reporting provision in Division Y - this was eventually signed into law). Discussed implementation of cyber incident reporting legislation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471). Discussed the importance of protecting the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) as the energy sectors risk management agency. Discussed comments APPA filed with DOE to its Request for Information, entitled Energy Sector Supply Chain Review. Discussed industry-wide transformer shortage and equipment supply chain challenges. Also discussed the need for more domestic production of electrical equipment. Discussed the strategic transformer reserve provision in section 20301 of H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Discussed several DOE grants APPA has received to support the cybersecurity posture of public power utilities, as well as to deploy cyber and cyber-physical solutions for public power utilities. Discussed public power utilities' efforts to transition to cleaner energy technologies, efforts to advance electrification, and modernize the grid. Discussed challenges public power utilities face in these efforts; and how programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could be helpful to public power utilities in their efforts. Discussed DOE's Notice of Intent (NOI) on Building a Better Grid Initiative To Upgrade and Expand the Nation's Electric Transmission Grid To Support Resilience, Reliability, and Decarbonization, which seeks to implement provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the transmission needs study, the Transmission Facilitation Program, transmission corridor authority, and resiliency programs. Discussed implementation of the provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by DOE on grid modernization, cybersecurity, resilience, and electric vehicles (EVs) (in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOT)). Discussed implementation by DOE of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that would be helpful to public power utilities, including provisions on cybersecurity, grid modernization, resilience, and the deployment of EV charging infrastructure (in conjunction with the DOT) (sections 11401, 40101, 40107, 40121, 40123, and 40124) and public powers transition to cleaner energy resources. Discussed the implementation of provisions in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Discussed what public power is doing to enable EVs, including support for federal incentives included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the ability of public power utilities to have access to those incentives. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy EV charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. In addition, discussed the need for flexibility and local decision making in the deployment of charging infrastructure and the importance of electric utility involvement in such deployment to ensure reliability. Discussed role of electric utilities in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, including the need for engagement with utilities on state plans and siting decisions and the potential for federal funding to cover EV "make-ready" costs that would otherwise be borne by utility or site host. Discussed support for the inclusion of language in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to increase the Bonneville Power Administrations borrowing authority. Discussed support for the RD&D provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies. Discussed support for clean energy and research and development provisions in the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021). Discussed the importance of hydropower as an electricity resource for public power utilities and support for modernizing the hydropower licensing and relicensing process, including support for H.R. 1588, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act. Discussed the need for the reliable delivery of natural gas for electricity generation. Provided feedback on H.R. 5749, the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act (all provisions). Discussed natural gas futures price spike and impact to some public power utilities. Provided feedback on potential a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-related bill, on regional transmission organizations, joint ownership of transmission, the need for regulatory reform on federal transmission siting, and the streamlining of hydropower relicensing process. Discussed transmission issues, including inter-regional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed rising transmission costs for public power utilities and the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. In addition, discussed issues with the interconnection queue in certain regional transmission markets. Discussed support for siting and permitting reform to enable the construction of clean energy infrastructure, including transmission.

Discussed the exemption in Section 224 of the Communications Act that precludes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation of public power pole attachments. Expressed opposition to any attempt to repeal or weaken the exemption. Discussed the impact H.R. 1149, the CONNECT Act, would have on public power utilities providing broadband services.

Discussed H.R. 7516, the Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act, all provisions, from the 116th Congress. Discussed H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act, all provisions. Discussed climate policy, including APPAs support for federal legislation to address the issue. Discussed potential climate-related provisions that could be included in infrastructure legislation, including a clean energy standard and carbon tax. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Discussed impacts of the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0819) and Revised Definition of Waters of the U.S. (EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0149) on public power utilities.

Discussed H.R. 7516, the Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act, all provisions, from the 116th Congress. Discussed and provided feedback on H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act, provisions in Titles II and IV. Discussed climate policy, including APPAs support for federal legislation to address the issue. Discussed potential climate-related provisions that could be included in infrastructure legislation, including a clean energy standard. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Discussed the need for the federal government to provide robust support for research, development, and demonstration of technologies needed to reduce GHG emissions. Discussed the Council on Environmental Qualitys (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulatory amendments. Discussed the importance of modernizing NEPA to facilitate the Biden Administration's infrastructure goals and the historical permitting delays, which have added costs to certain projects.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed the exemption in Section 224 of the Communications Act that precludes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation of public power pole attachments. Expressed opposition to any attempt to repeal or weaken the exemption. Discussed concerns with the potential inclusion of language in infrastructure legislation to weaken local control of public power utility pole attachments. Discussed public powers concerns with FCC proceeding to open the 6 GHz band to unlicensed users (FCC ET Docket No. 18-295 and GN Docket No. 17-183). Discussed support for H.R. 1631, the Community Broadband Act.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed the exemption in Section 224 of the Communications Act that precludes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation of public power pole attachments. Expressed opposition to any attempt to repeal or weaken the exemption. Discussed broadband provisions included in H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Discussed opposition to amendment 2327 to the bill to prohibit municipalities from being eligible for broadband grants.

Discussed the development of the upcoming 2022 Water Resources Development Act. Discussed the importance of the Power Marketing Administrations/Army Corps of Engineers hydropower program. Also discussed the impact of drought on hydropower production from federal dams. Provided feedback on the energy provisions included in H.R. 5781, the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed potential cybersecurity legislation to require incident reporting, systemically important infrastructure, and other proposals from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Provided feedback on draft legislation (no bill number). Discussed concerns with potential efforts to impose additional mandatory reporting requirements on electric utilities regarding grid security. Discussed support for H.R. 2931, the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act. Discussed draft legislation regarding ransomware. Discussed how the Department of Energy (DOE) is approaching energy sector supply chain security, including DOEs Request for Information (RFI) to replace the Executive Order on the Bulk Power System (EO 13920). 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 existing, mandatory and enforceable reporting standards for electric utilities. Discussed the NCS 100-Day Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative. Discussed concerns with the draft Warner/Rubio cyber incident reporting legislation, including opposition to mandatory reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with provisions to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a rulemaking on rate incentives for advanced cybersecurity technology. Discussed support for H.R. 2928/S. 2199, the Cybersense Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 3119, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Discussed threats from ransomware and potential solutions (no bill number). Discussed H.R. 1833, the Department of Homeland Security ICS Enhancement Act. Discussed the cybersecurity provisions in the Energy Infrastructure Act (no bill number), including support for information disclosure protection provisions and additional funding to DOE for grants to public power utilities for cyber programs. Discussed APPA response to DOEs RFI on Energy Sector Supply Chain Security. Discussed support for an amendment offered to S. 1260, the U.S. Competition and Innovation Act, to clarify that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must coordinate with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Also discussed potential amendments to the bill on electric sector related issues. Discussed support for amending S. 1316, the Cyber Response and Recovery Act, to ensure DHS coordinates with DOE during cyber events affecting the electric sector. Discussed support for DOE funding public power resiliency grants (no bill number). 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 used the funding to work with its members to improve their cyber hygiene. Discussed APPA's cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy (DE-CR0000007) and how APPA will use funding to help its members develop and deploy active cyber defense on public power operational technology networks. Discussed derivatives of DOEs Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Discussed need for Congress to look into FEMAs denial of public assistance for control room sequestration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed APPA Light Up Navajo Project to provide electric service to Navajo Nation families by using mutual aid from public power utilities to build the infrastructure needed to provide service. Discussed community solar issues and possible legislation to spur community solar. Also discussed concerns with creating a must-consider requirement section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) for community solar. Discussed details on the National Community Solar Partnership and provided examples of public power utilities with community solar projects. Discussed potential legislation promote demand response programs by electric utilities. Discussed work being done by public power utilities on green hydrogen. Also discussed work APPA did with Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory on community solar. Discussed potential energy-related provisions that could be included in an infrastructure package, including ones on transmission and promoting clean energy technologies. Discussed the role of public power utilities in helping deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Also discussed public power EV rebate programs and EV fleet programs. Discussed support for language in infrastructure legislation to provide grants to public power utilities and other entities to deploy charging infrastructure along designated corridors on the National Highway System. Provided feedback on EV provisions in H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act. Expressed opposition to the potential inclusion of language in H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, that would limit electric utilities role in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Discussed transmission issues, including interregional transmission planning, cost allocation, siting, and permitting. Also discussed the need for joint ownership of transmission by public power utilities. Provided feedback on H.R. 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act. Noted concerns about costs, cost allocation, and firm transmission rights. Discussed concerns with H.R. 616, Emergency Water Is a Human Rights Act. Discussed calls by former FERC Commissioners to have FERC mandate all electric utilities participate in regional transmission organizations. Discussed initiative on transmission by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Discussed revisions to National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standard BAL-003. Also discussed low impact assets under NERC standard CIP-002. Discussed provisions in H.R. 1848, the LIFT America Act, on EVs, transmission, and distributed energy resources. Discussed potential hydropower-related provisions in draft infrastructure legislation.

Discussed H.R. 7516, the Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act, all provisions, from the 116th Congress. Discussed and provided feedback on H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act, provisions in Titles II and IV. Discussed climate policy, including APPAs support for federal legislation to address the issue. Discussed potential climate-related provisions that could be included in infrastructure legislation, including a clean energy standard. Discussed what public power utilities are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Discussed the need for the federal government to provide robust support for research, development, and demonstration of technologies needed to reduce GHG emissions. Discussed the Council on Environmental Qualitys (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulatory amendments. Discussed the importance of modernizing NEPA to facilitate the Biden Administration's infrastructure goals and the historical permitting delays, which have added costs to certain projects.