---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18721"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18721"
heading: "Enhancing grid security through public-private partnerships"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18721"
units:
  - "Chapter 162 — Energy Infrastructure"
  - "Subchapter I — Grid Infrastructure and Resiliency"
  - "Part B — Cybersecurity"
---

# §18721. Enhancing grid security through public-private partnerships

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Bulk-power system; Electric Reliability Organization—** The terms “bulk-power system” and “Electric Reliability Organization” has the meaning given the terms in section 824o(a) of title 16.
  - (2) **Electric utility; State regulatory authority—** The terms “electric utility” and “[State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3) regulatory authority” have the meanings given the terms in [section 796 of title 16](/usc/16/796.md).
- (b) **Program to promote and advance physical security and cybersecurity of electric utilities—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3), in coordination with the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) of Homeland Security and in consultation with, as the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) determines to be appropriate, the heads of other relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3) regulatory authorities, industry stakeholders, and the Electric Reliability Organization, shall carry out a [program](/usc/42/18791.md?p=2)—
    - (A) to develop, and provide for voluntary implementation of, maturity models, self-assessments, and auditing methods for assessing the physical security and cybersecurity of electric utilities;
    - (B) to assist with threat assessment and cybersecurity training for electric utilities;
    - (C) to provide technical assistance for electric utilities subject to the [program](/usc/42/18791.md?p=2);
    - (D) to provide training to electric utilities to address and mitigate cybersecurity supply chain management risks;
    - (E) to advance, in partnership with electric utilities, the cybersecurity of third-party vendors that manufacture components of the electric grid;
    - (F) to increase opportunities for sharing best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and data collection within the electric sector; and
    - (G) to assist, in the case of electric utilities that own defense critical electric infrastructure (as defined in [section 824o–1(a)](/usc/16/824o–1.md?p=a) of title 16), with full engineering reviews of critical functions and operations at both the utility and defense infrastructure levels—
      - (i) to identify unprotected avenues for cyber-enabled sabotage that would have catastrophic effects to national security; and
      - (ii) to recommend and implement engineering protections to ensure continued operations of identified critical functions even in the face of constant cyber attacks and achieved perimeter access by sophisticated adversaries.
  - (2) **Scope—** In carrying out the [program](/usc/42/18791.md?p=2) under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) shall—
    - (A) take into consideration—
      - (i) the different sizes of electric utilities; and
      - (ii) the regions that electric utilities serve;
    - (B) prioritize electric utilities with fewer available resources due to size or region; and
    - (C) to the maximum extent practicable, use and leverage—
      - (i) existing [Department](/usc/42/18701.md?p=1) and [Department](/usc/42/18701.md?p=1) of Homeland Security [programs](/usc/42/18791.md?p=2); and
      - (ii) existing [programs](/usc/42/18791.md?p=2) of the Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) determined to be appropriate under [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
- (c) **Report on cybersecurity of distribution systems—** Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021, the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3), in coordination with the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) of Homeland Security and in consultation with, as the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) determines to be appropriate, the heads of other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3) regulatory authorities, and industry stakeholders, shall submit to Congress a report 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)](#c-1), including—
    - (A) an estimate of potential costs and benefits of the implementation; and
    - (B) an assessment of any public-private cost-sharing opportunities.
- (d) **Protection of information—** Information provided to, or collected by, the Federal Government pursuant to this section the disclosure of which the [Secretary](/usc/42/18701.md?p=3) reasonably foresees could be detrimental to the physical security or cybersecurity of any electric utility or the bulk-power system—
  - (1) shall be exempt from disclosure under [section 552(b)(3) of title 5](/usc/5/552.md?p=b-3); and
  - (2) shall not be made available by any Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), or Tribal authority pursuant to any Federal, [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/18791.md?p=3), or Tribal law, respectively, requiring public disclosure of information or records.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title I, § 40121, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 949.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Wage Rate Requirements

For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.