ACT 1 Prize
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program invited electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities to apply for competitive funding and technical assistance through the ACT 1 Prize Competition. The ACT 1 Prize is the first in a series of Prizes that will be offered under the RMUC Program. The deadline for submissions was November 29, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET.
The ACT 1 Prize offers a total prize pool of up to $8.96 million in cash and technical assistance across three increasingly competitive phases—Commitment, Planning, and Implementation—where each phase concludes with a prize award. This three-phase competition will challenge eligible utilities to identify risks and implement solutions to harden their systems against threats and improve their overall cybersecurity posture.
ACT 1 Prize – Phase 1 - Commitment Phase
Competitors had an opportunity to prepare submission packages that describe their resources, need for improving their utility’s cybersecurity posture, and their commitment to participating in the ACT 1 Prize. Winning utilities in the Commitment Phase will receive cash prizes and technical assistance based on their commitment to improving their utility’s cybersecurity posture through investments in cybersecurity technologies, staff training, and improvements to governance processes.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Phase 2 – Planning Phase
Utilities will work with technical assistance providers to complete system assessments, identify areas for training, understand potential risks and solutions, and draft a roadmap for implementation. Winning utilities will receive cash prizes and technical assistance based on the work completed during the Planning Phase.
Phase 3 – Implementation Phase
Utilities will work with technical assistance providers to make progress implementing their cybersecurity roadmap. Winning utilities will receive cash prizes based on the work completed during the Implementation Phase.
The RMUC Program’s ACT 1 Prize is an American-Made Challenges competition administered by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and managed by DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER).
Sign Up for Updates
To receive the latest news and updates about the RMUC Program, please send an email to [email protected] to be added to the RMUC Program distribution list.