Report on Cybersecurity of Distribution Systems

NREL is leading the development of a report on the cybersecurity of distribution systems on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.

Section 40121 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorizes development of the report, which the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response will deliver to Congress in 2023.

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NREL is coordinating technical expertise from the laboratory's cybersecurity research teams and representatives from seven national laboratories: Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories.

Multiple ownership models, numerous regulatory frameworks, and rapid deployment of behind-the-meter technologies will require adoption of near-term risk management methods as well as deeper analysis of models to manage risks in a rapidly evolving distribution system. Recognizing this, the team is also engaging a broad representation of stakeholders from federal agencies, state agencies, state regulatory authorities, private industry, and academia to obtain diverse perspective and expertise in the development of the report though industry workshops and public webinars.

The report will assess priorities, policies, procedures, and actions for electric distribution cybersecurity and physical security.

How To Get Involved

Stay engaged with our team's efforts by joining the mailing list.

 

You may unsubscribe at any time. We will retain a record of your submission for notifications regarding webinars and updates on the development of this report. For more information, see NREL's security and privacy notices.

You will receive notification on opportunities to join the conversation through public webinars that provide updates on the report development, including content themes and technical evaluations.

Learn about the project overview in the cybersecurity and distribution systems webinar; find out about priorities of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; and learn about NREL’s approach in developing the report.

Congressional Directive

The report will be submitted by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response in Spring 2023, in accordance with Section 40121 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021 (P.L. 117-58), which requires the secretary of energy, in coordination with the secretary of homeland security, to submit a report to Congress that assesses:

  1. Priorities, policies, procedures, and actions for enhancing the physical security and cybersecurity of electricity distribution systems, including behind-the-meter generation, storage, and load management devices, to address threats to, and vulnerabilities of, electricity distribution systems; and

  2. The implementation of the priorities, policies, procedures, and actions assessed under paragraph (1), including:

    1. An estimate of potential costs and benefits of the implementation; and

    2. An assessment of any public-private cost-sharing opportunities.

Contact

For more information, contact NREL's Cybersecurity Program Office.

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