(the following news story is from the November issue of Energy Innovations, Colorado's Electric Cooperatives)

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association $15 million toward deploying threat monitoring and intelligence tools to secure the electric grid against cyberattacks.

NRECA will receive $10 million in 2023 and $5 million in 2024. It will use the funding to help electric co-ops select tools, both hardware and software, to protect their industrial control systems from cyberthreats.

Experience gained by NRECA through this DOE initiative will enhance the cybersecurity and preparedness of electric co-ops nationwide, including in Colorado.

“As threats and threat actors evolve, electric cooperatives consistently work to improve their cyber defenses,” said Jim Matheson, NRECA CEO. “Funding like this helps co-ops stay ahead of the curve. Our long-standing partnership with DOE makes the electric grid more resilient, reliable and secure.”

NRECA is the national trade association for the nation’s approximately 900 distribution co-op and generation and transmission co-ops.