Hoeven proposes bill to protect nation’s energy infrastructure from cyberattacks

To help combat the nation’s rising threat of cyberattacks, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to bolster critical infrastructure and improve the nation’s energy grid security and resilience.

“Our legislation supports the development and implementation of technologies and practices that will better secure our energy infrastructure from cyber-based attacks, protecting against those who would do us harm,” Sen. Hoeven said.

Noting that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the lawmaker on Oct. 1 signed on as the original cosponsor of the Cyber Sense Act of 2020, S. 4795, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The bill would create a voluntary Cyber Sense program at the U.S. Energy Department to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Hoeven’s office.

“Our nation’s energy systems are essential to every home and business, and vulnerabilities in the grid and other infrastructure represent a real risk to the well-being of our citizens,” added Sen. Hoeven.

If enacted, the bill also would establish a testing process for the products along with a reporting process of cybersecurity vulnerabilities; require the U.S. Secretary of Energy to keep a related database on the products, which could aid electric utilities that are evaluating products and their potential to cause harm to the electric grid; and direct the Energy Secretary to consider incentives to encourage the use of analysis and results of testing under the program in the design of products and technologies for use in the bulk-power system, according to the senator’s summary.

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy and the Edison Electric Institute support the measure.

Identical companion legislation, H.R. 360, introduced in January 2019 by U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) in their chamber, on Sept. 29 received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives, which advanced the bill to the U.S. Senate for action.