FERC Approves Extending Risk Management Practices to Low-Impact Cyber Systems
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 16 approved a new cybersecurity standard that will expand supply chain risk management practices for low-impact bulk electric system cyber systems.
APPA Voices Concerns About Redundant Cyber Incident Reporting Bill
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security in late February approved a bill that would set up redundant cyber incident reporting mandates.
New Resource Focuses on Electricity Substation Physical Security
The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new resource that provides owners, operators, and stakeholders with updated threat information and protective measures that can help improve a substation’s on-site physical security. CISA produced the resource in collaboration with the Department of Energy.
Department of Justice Charges Two People With Conspiracy to Attack Maryland Substations
The U.S. Department of Justice on Feb. 6 announced the filing of a federal criminal complaint charging two people with conspiracy to destroy substations in Maryland.
Michael Coe Joins APPA as Vice President for Security, Resilience, and Energy Solutions
Michael Coe recently joined the American Public Power Association as Vice President for Security, Resilience, and Energy Solutions at APPA.
FERC Takes Steps to Bolster Reliability Standards for Monitoring Grid Cyber Systems
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Jan. 19 directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to develop and submit reliability standards requiring internal network security monitoring for high-impact bulk electric system cyber systems and medium-impact systems with high-speed internet connections.
APPA Details How it Can Help Implement DOE Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program
There are a number of ways in which the American Public Power Association (APPA) can help the Department of Energy successfully implement a Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program including assisting in identifying solutions as well as potential pathways for increasing information sharing with small- and medium-sized public power utilities, APPA said.
FERC Directs NERC to Assess Effectiveness of Physical Security Reliability Standard
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Dec. 15 issued an order directing the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to submit a report to the Commission analyzing the effectiveness of the existing NERC reliability standard addressing physical security of the bulk power system.
APPA’s Adrienne Lotto Emphasizes Importance of Layered Defenses for Grid Security
When it comes to grid security, the importance of layered defenses cannot be overstated, and while the power sector has a good overall understanding of the risk it is facing in this area, to the extent that more information can be shared from the federal government to entities and utilities, that is helpful for utilities to understand their risks and respond accordingly, said Adrienne Lotto, Senior Vice President of Grid Security, Technical & Operations Services, American Public Power Association (APPA), on Dec. 7.
Duke Energy Responds to Outages Caused by Substation Vandalism
Duke Energy over the weekend said that it was responding to power outages caused by vandalism against utility equipment in North Carolina.