Electric Grid Subject to Physical Attack

The Wall Street Journal has provided a history and analysis of physical attacks on the electric grid in the U.S.

"The U.S. electric system is in danger of widespread blackouts lasting days, weeks or longer through the destruction of sensitive, hard-to-replace equipment. Yet records are so spotty that no government agency can offer an accurate tally of substation attacks, whether for vandalism, theft or more nefarious purposes.

Most substations are unmanned and often protected chiefly by chain-link fences. Many have no electronic security, leaving attacks unnoticed until after the damage is done. Even if there are security cameras, they often prove worthless. In some cases, alarms are simply ignored.

The vulnerability of substations was broadly revealed in a Journal account of a 2013 attack on PG&E’s Metcalf facility near San Jose, Calif. Gunmen knocked out 17 transformers that help power Silicon Valley; a blackout was narrowly averted. The assailants were never caught."

Utilities have been giving "lip service" to their efforts to protect the grid.  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued regulations three years ago (WSJ) that power companies nationwide must identify key transmission substations and other hubs that, if knocked out of service, could cause blackouts or other major problems. The utilities must then put defenses in place, and unaffiliated experts must review their security plans. The regulations were to be effective this year. It appears little progress has been made.

Supposedly, the Texas grid is not subject to FERC regulations, but, it is common sense that Texas utilities would take the same or more restrictive measures to protect the grid.

At Georgetown's budget workshop yesterday, the staff reviewed the budget for the city owned electric utility and described all the on-going and proposed capital projects, but, there was no mention of efforts to secure the city owned electric distribution system. It evidently remains vulnerable to both cyber-attacks and physical attacks.

Does the city have plans to cope with extended outages of the electric grid if it is disabled by cyber or physical attacks?  That is a question worthy of being asked!