U.S. Senate Passes Energy Bill With Cyber Security Provisions

On April 20, the United States Senate passed a sweeping energy bill that would give the Department of Energy authority to step in during a cyber attack and tell electric utilities what to do to protect the nation's power grid.  The bill also authorizes funding for cyber research and testing, and more clearly defines DOE's role in power grid defense.

The Energy Policy Modernization Act amends several prior bills, including the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Energy Conservation and Production Act, and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.  The Act received broad approval from both sides of the aisle, ultimately passing 85 to 12.

While the bill covers a wide range of energy topics, a significant portion is devoted specifically to the protection of the U.S. power grid.  For example, the legislation would give DOE the authority to step in during a cyber security threat and to mandate that an electric utility "take such actions as the Secretary