Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act establishes a federal program to provide grants and technical assistance to small electric utilities, including rural cooperatives, municipally owned systems, and smaller investor-owned companies. The program aims to help these entities deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies and participate in threat information sharing networks to better protect against cyberattacks. Funding is prioritized for utilities with limited security resources or those operating critical infrastructure that supports the national power grid. The bill authorizes $250 million in appropriations over five years, from fiscal year 2027 through 2031, and exempts shared cybersecurity information from public disclosure under freedom of information laws.