Description:
H.R. 359 would direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to collaborate with federal and state agencies and interested parties in the private 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 electric utilities and would specify program reporting and administrative requirements. Using information from DOE, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 359 would not significantly affect the federal budget because the activities authorized by the bill are consistent with DOE’s existing efforts related to energy infrastructure security. H.R. 359 would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act by preempting state, local, and tribal laws that could otherwise cause governmental agencies to disclose information collected by the Department of Energy under the program, 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 revenues. H.R. 359 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
