Description:
H.R. 5240 would direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to promote collaborative efforts—among federal, state, and private stakeholders of the electricity sector—to assess and improve the physical security and cybersecurity of electric utilities. The bill would authorize DOE to provide guidance, training, and technical assistance to utilities and specify other reporting and administrative requirements.
Using information from DOE, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5240 would not significantly affect the federal budget. The activities authorized by the bill are largely consistent with DOE’s existing efforts related to the security of the energy infrastructure. As a result, CBO expects that any changes in federal spending under the bill—which would be subject to appropriation—would be small.
H.R. 5240 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5240 would not affect direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 5240 would impose an intergovernmental mandate, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), by preempting state, local, and tribal laws that could otherwise cause government agencies to disclose information collected by DOE under the bill, such as plans to enhance cybersecurity. Although the preemption would limit the application of state, local, and tribal laws, CBO estimates that it would impose no duty on those governments that would result in additional spending or a loss of revenue.
H.R. 5240 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
