Utilities warn U.S. grid at risk as federal cyber funds dry up

Utility executives and grid security analysts warned Congress that U.S. federal funding for cybersecurity isn’t keeping pace with a surge in nation-state intrusions, leaving U.S. energy systems exposed.

Leaders from investor-owned utilities, rural cooperatives and the national labs told the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee Tuesday that Chinese hackers are embedded across energy infrastructure in the U.S. and that the next wave of attacks will exploit longstanding resource gaps – especially in rural systems and aging operational technology.

The warnings come as researchers describe a threat environment shaped by pre-positioning campaigns from nation-state adversaries – with hackers increasingly embedding themselves quietly into operational technology networks. Officials have warned for years that China in particular is preparing “destructive” attacks against critical infrastructure sectors.

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