States must now plan for grid attacks—but Congress won't fund it
S. 4166 — SECURE Grid Act · Filed by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 24, 2026 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill amends federal energy law to require states to include plans for protecting local electric distribution systems (lines carrying power at lower voltages) against physical attacks, cyberattacks, and supply-chain risks in their state energy security plans. It also mandates that states consult with equipment suppliers when developing these plans, and requires the Government Accountability Office to report by 2030 on whether these state plans actually improve energy resilience.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a planning and reporting requirement for state energy security, focused on identifying and mitigating physical, cyber, and supply-chain risks to local electric distribution systems. It is a regulatory mandate, not a subsidy or carve-out.
What the text implies
- Requirement to include equipment suppliers in state planning processes may create informal lobbying channels for vendors to influence state energy infrastructure decisions, though no direct procurement mandate is present.
- The 2031 sunset clause means the planning requirement expires unless Congress reauthorizes, creating potential for a gap in state energy security planning if reauthorization is delayed or blocked.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Cybersecurity and physical security vendors (equipment and services); Grid modernization and resilience technology providers; Consulting firms advising states on energy security planning