Lessons Learned at the Texas Grid Security Summit 2016

Senator Bob Hall hosted a grid security summit in Austin on April 28 & 29. The following is the author's take-away from the summit.

Texas Electric Grid Vulnerability                                              4/29/2016

There are four major threats to the entire Texas Electric Grid in addition to the traditional localized threats usually created by severe weather.

1.    Cyberattacks on the grid’s computerized command and control system.

2.    Physical attacks on substations and major high voltage transformers.

3.    Geomagnetic storms created by solar flares from the sun.

4.    Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks by nuclear explosions at high altitudes (60 to 240 miles.)

Threat No. 2 would require multiple simultaneous attacks to bring down the entire Texas grid. One AK-47 attack was carried out on a substation near San Jose, California two years ago and the perpetrators have not been identified or apprehended.

Threat Nos. 1,   3 and 4 would use the same physical mechanisms to render the grid inoperable, but, would enter the grid system via different paths.

Cyberattacks would enter through the internet and attack the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, like the recent Ukraine utility attack. They would likely command over-voltages and currents that would permanently damage the large high voltage transformers. These key transformers are connected to the high-voltage transmission lines. They can weigh up to 800,000 pounds and have the dimensions of a small house. These transformers are hand built for each specific location and are only manufactured in South Korea and Germany with an 18 month lead time for construction. There are no spares.

Cyberattacks could also be directed against the SCADAs themselves rendering them inoperable. There are thousands of these computer control devices in the Texas grid.

An EMP event results in three pulses of energy called, E1, E2, and E3. The E1 pulse is high frequency and short duration and it damages the microchips in the SCADAs. The E2 pulse is similar to lightening and causes residential style transformers to fail. The E3 pulse causes large voltage and current swings in the high voltage transmission lines. When those high amplitude fluctuations enter the large transformers they cause transformers to overheat and fail. High altitude nuclear explosions causes all three type of energy pulses. The solar flares generate just the E3 energy pulse.

Therefore, any hardening or protection against the nuclear generated pulses will also protect against the solar generated energy pulses and the lightening induced pulses. Hence, it seems the more prudent approach.

Texans are completely dependent on the electrical grid like all Americans. If the grid is inoperable for more than a few days, it would have catastrophic impacts on Texas citizens. No electricity means no heating or cooling, no gasoline, diesel or natural gas, no internet, no ATMs or money, no cell phones, no lighting, and no food or medicine. No life-saving equipment would operate and there would be no communications capability except for Ham radio operators with an independent power supply.

Localized grid outages can be handled in the traditional manner. Everyone should stock sufficient food, water and other essentials for 3 days. Our government promises that FEMA will supply everyone with the essentials to survive by the 4^th day.

For a complete grid failure that could last days and months, each individual and their family would be completely on their own to insure their survival. This is a very unappealing scenario!

Our utility companies say that these threats have high impact, but low probability of occurrence. This may be true of the solar flare event; but, it is definitely not true for the other threats.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have written military doctrines to attack and destroy America’s electrical grids. They also have the technical means to construct, deliver and detonate a low yield nuclear weapon 60 to 240 miles above the U.S. to destroy the electrical grids. North Korea currently has 2 satellites orbiting around the earth that pass periodically over the U.S. With an irrational dictator like Kim Jung Un, an attack could be launched without warning at any time – especially on a bad hair day!

The technology currently exists to harden and protect the Texas grid against these threats. The costs, though not insignificant, are quite manageable given the size of the Texas economy. The major impediment to protecting the grid is the education of our citizens and local and state lawmakers. The biggest impediment may be our utility companies and their lobbies’. The resistance of our utility operators to protect the grid needs to be overcome by any and all means from incentives to regulations.