The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program was established by the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Section 40124 of the IIJA authorizes $250 million over a 5-year period to create the RMUC Program to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats, and to increase their participation in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs.
Administered by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), the RMUC Program supports critical investments to harden utility systems, deliver crucial technical assistance, and provide cybersecurity training to the utility workforce. These investments will result in a more secure and resilient energy grid that is better prepared to match the challenging cybersecurity threats facing electric utilities.
RMUC Program Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) – Submission Deadline Closed on January 10, 2024
On November 16, 2023, the RMUC Program released a $70 million competitive funding opportunity to enhance the cybersecurity posture of electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities. The RMUC Program’s Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) anticipates funding up to 10 projects in each of the following three topic areas:
- Direct support for eligible utilities to make investments in cybersecurity technologies, tools, training, and improvements in utility processes and procedures;
- Funding to strengthen the peer-to-peer and not-for-profit cybersecurity technical assistance ecosystem currently serving eligible electric utilities; and
- Increasing access to cybersecurity technical assistance and training for eligible utilities with limited cybersecurity resources.
CESER may issue one, multiple, or no awards. The estimated period of performance for each award will be approximately 24-48 months.
RMUC Program Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) 1 Prize – Submission Deadline Closed on November 29, 2023
On August 30, 2023, the RMUC Program launched a competitive Prize, the Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) 1 Prize. Up to 55 eligible utilities have a chance to win up to $200,000 each in cash prizes and cybersecurity technical assistance in this competition. A total of $7.25 million in cash prizes and $1.71 million in cybersecurity technical assistance will be awarded. For more information about the ACT 1 Prize, please visit the ACT 1 Prize program page on the American-Made Challenges website. For general information about the RMUC Program’s ACT Prize series, see the RMUC Program Prize Series page.
Cybersecurity Training for the Utility Workforce
The RMUC Program organized a series of six intensive 3-day cybersecurity training opportunities for technical practitioners working in an electric, oil, or natural gas utility. The training focused on industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity and included lectures and hands on exercises and challenges. Through this series, more than 600 personnel from energy sector utilities were trained to improve their cybersecurity knowledge and defense skills.
Registration for the training events was free. The training program was made possible through funding provided to CESER under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
For more information about this Cybersecurity Trainings series, please visit Cybersecurity Training for the Utility Workforce | Department of Energy.
Sign Up for Updates
To receive the latest news and updates about the RMUC Program, please send an email to CESER.RMUC@hq.doe.gov and request to be added to the RMUC Program distribution list.
RMUC News
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $70 million funding opportunity to enhance the cybersecurity posture of electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities.November 16, 2023
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) announced its intent to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA).October 24, 2023
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DOE Cybersecurity Training for the Utility Workforce: Strengthening the Security Posture of Electric UtilitiesOctober 17, 2023
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DOE Announces Nearly $9 Million Prize Competition to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Rural America.August 30, 2023
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Within CESER, one expert working at the cyber/energy nexus is poised to help advance infrastructure security in America from the ground up.December 21, 2022
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DOE Seeking Public Input from Stakeholders to Help Rural, Municipal, and Small Investor-owned Electric Utilities Enhance their CybersecurityOctober 20, 2022
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The RMUC Program received comments and insights from more than 260 participants, including 152 utility staff, at the August 18th RMUC Program launch and listening session. Additional listening sessions are scheduled for September 15th and September 29th.September 2, 2022
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Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Listening SessionsThe DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) is excited to launch a new program that will accelerate the ability of electric utilities to improve their cybersecurity posture.August 8, 2022
RMUC Launch
The RMUC Program launch was held on August 18, 2022. Below is a video and copies of the transcript and slides that were presented.