Energy Sector
The Energy Sector provides the power and fuels that support virtually every aspect of modern life and enable the operation of all other critical infrastructure sectors. It includes the production, generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and delivery of electricity and fuels throughout the Nation. Reliable energy infrastructure is essential to homes, businesses, government operations, transportation, communications, healthcare, water systems, and national security.
Overview
The sector consists of thousands of geographically dispersed assets and interconnected systems involved in electricity, oil, and natural gas. These include power generation facilities, transmission and distribution networks, substations, pipelines, refineries, storage facilities, and other infrastructure necessary to produce and deliver energy to consumers and critical services.
Energy infrastructure depends on a combination of physical assets, operational technology, information technology, communications networks, transportation systems, supply chains, and a skilled workforce. Because nearly every other critical infrastructure sector relies on energy, disruptions can have widespread and cascading effects across communities and the economy.
Protecting the Energy Sector requires attention to cybersecurity, physical security, supply-chain resilience, emergency preparedness, and the ability to maintain or rapidly restore essential services following a disruption. The U.S. Department of Energy serves as the Sector Risk Management Agency for the Energy Sector and works with government and industry partners to strengthen the security and resilience of the Nation's energy infrastructure.
