Bipartisan Senate bill aims to prepare energy sector for Q
Bipartisan Senate bill would direct FERC to factor quantum computing threats and post-quantum cryptography into US electric grid cybersecurity reliability standards.
The Quantum Grid Utility Assurance and Resilient Defense (Quantum-GUARD) Act, introduced by Senators Mike Rounds and Chris Coons, would require FERC to consider quantum computing threats when reviewing electric reliability standards and to explore post-quantum cryptography use in both IT and OT systems, plus a technical sandbox to study quantum impacts. It aligns with NIST's post-quantum algorithm work, and a June executive order moved the federal PQC migration deadline from 2035 to 2030. Industry experts noted the hard part is upgrading infrastructure such as SCADA communications and software update integrity ahead of those deadlines.