RMUC Program Listening Sessions

The Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) is hosting three listening sessions to inform the development of CESER’s Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program (RMUC Program). The goal of the RMUC Program is to enhance the security posture of rural, municipal, and small investor-owned electric utilities and improve their ability to protect against, detect, respond to, or recover from a cybersecurity threat.  

The RMUC Program will prioritize investments in eligible utilities that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Have limited cybersecurity resources
• Own assets critical to the reliability of the bulk-power system
• Own defense critical electric infrastructure

The primary objectives of the RMUC Program are to deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies (defined as any technology, operational capability, or service for electric utility systems that enhances a utility’s security posture), and to increase participation of eligible entities in threat information sharing programs.

Information gathered during the listening sessions will inform:

• Outreach and engagement strategies to ensure all eligible entities are aware of program opportunities.
• Program priorities, goals, design, and implementation strategies to ensure relevance for the target audience and active inclusion of resource limited utilities.

Past Sessions

Listening Session #1 – Official Launch of the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program (RMUC Program)

On August 18, 2022, CESER officially launched the RMUC Program and held it’s first listening session.  A video of the launch and related materials can be accessed on the RMUC Program page.

The listening session that followed the Program launch was the first in a series of four sessions and provided an overview of DOE’s RMUC Program, and an opportunity for participants to provide input on the cybersecurity priorities and challenges that were relevant to eligible utilities.

Listening Session #2: Electric Cooperative Utilities

The second listening session was held on September 15, 2022. The agenda included an overview of DOE’s RMUC Program, a presentation on some of the insights gained from the first listening session, and an opportunity for participants to provide input on the cybersecurity priorities and challenges that were relevant to electric cooperative utilities.

Listening Session #3: Electric Municipal and Small Investor-Owned Utilities

The third listening session was held on September 29, 2022. It focused on the unique needs of electric municipal and small-investor owned utilities and their key priorities.

Listening Session #4

The fourth listening session was held on October 25, 2022 and focused on the unique needs of electric cooperative utilities and their key priorities and is a make-up from the session held on September 15 that had technical difficulties.