Through the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), the U.S. Department of Energy addresses the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliable flow of energy to Americans today by improving energy infrastructure security.

A critical part of this work is our sector engagement with State, Local, Tribal and Territory (SLTT) officials and our industry partners. 

Working with Industry Partners Through the Subsector Coordinating Councils

Notably, more than 80 percent of energy infrastructure is owned by the private sector that fuels the transportation industry, powers households and businesses, and distributes other energy sources that drive the economy. DOE cooperates with our partners in the electricity, oil, and natural gas industries through the electricity and oil and natural gas subsector coordinating councils. 

The Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) serves as the principal liaison between leadership in the federal government and in the electric power sector to coordinate efforts to prepare for national-level incidents or threats to critical infrastructure. The ESCC facilitates and supports policy- and public affairs-related activities and initiatives designed to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid. These activities include all hazards, steady-state preparation, and emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for the nation’s electricity sector.

The Oil and Natural Gas Subsector Coordinating Council (ONG SCC) represents the private sector interests of the oil and natural gas industry in the public-private partnership. It provides a forum to coordinate oil and natural gas security strategies, activities, policy, and communication across the sector to support the nation’s homeland security mission. 

Both councils meet in-person at least 3 times a year, in addition to regular calls, to discuss the priorities of the sector. 

Supporting Preparedness and Response Efforts on the State and Local Level

CESER works closely with State and local governments on preparedness and response efforts. The office maintains strong relationships with state and local communities to build capacity through technical assistance, development of tools, risk analysis, education, and exercises to facilitate response in times of energy sector emergencies. CESER also partners with State and local organizations to further assist in these efforts including the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and National Governors Association (NGA).

By encouraging energy security planning that is risk-based, operationally-focused, and cross-jurisdictional, CESER builds the SLTT capacity to serve national security interests for cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency response. The office also provides enhanced government and private sector decision making through shared understanding of risks and hazards and facilitate relationships within and across state, local, tribal, territorial governments and agencies.