Sponsors (3)
The bill improves preparedness, supply‑chain resilience, and clarity for state and local electricity distribution planning through mandatory planning, supplier coordination, and GAO oversight, but does so at the cost of added compliance spending, potential taxpayer-funded implementation, coverage gaps from the 100 kV cutoff, and uncertainty after a 2031 sunset.
State governments, utilities, and electricity customers will get stronger preparedness and faster restoration after storms, attacks, or supply‑chain disruptions because States must plan for weather, physical attacks, and supply‑chain risks to local distribution.
Utilities and equipment suppliers will benefit from expanded coordination requirements that include suppliers, improving supply‑chain resilience and speeding procurement of replacement parts during outages.
State governments and grant applicants get clearer rules because States are required to submit plans (without needing Secretary approval), which streamlines eligibility and access to federal financial assistance.
Electric utilities and equipment suppliers will face increased compliance, planning, and coordination costs to meet expanded requirements, which may be especially burdensome for smaller providers.
Households and taxpayers could face higher costs because federal funds used to develop plans or to implement GAO-recommended actions may divert grant dollars from other state priorities or require additional federal spending.
Utilities, local governments, and some customers may be left exposed because the ≤100 kV cutoff can exclude assets or microgrids that functionally serve local needs but operate above that threshold.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires States to include local distribution, weather hazards, physical attacks, and equipment supply‑chain risks in energy security plans, ties planning to federal assistance, and mandates a GAO evaluation.
Official title: Amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 24, 2026 by Catherine Marie Cortez Masto · Last progress March 24, 2026
Requires States to update their energy security plans to explicitly address local distribution systems, weather-related hazards, physical attacks, and supply‑chain risks for electricity equipment, and to use federal financial assistance for those plans. Changes Department of Energy plan submission and Secretary discretion language, adds coordination requirements with equipment suppliers, and sets a statutory sunset for the provision. Directs the Government Accountability Office to deliver a public report by September 30, 2030, evaluating whether State energy security plans (as amended) improved risk identification, mitigation, response, and recovery; describing federal funds used; assessing implementation; and recommending improvements for States and the Secretary of Energy. Sensitive information may be placed in a nonpublic annex.