Electric Co-op Today

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee has approved bipartisan legislation that would give federal regulators new authority to order protection of the grid against cyber and physical threats and vulnerabilities.

A House subcommittee cleared a measure that would give federal regulators new authorities to protect the grid against cyber and physical attacks. (Photo By: Adam Dodd)

The Energy and Environment Subcommittee’s voice vote came March 24, a day after Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff told the panel he considered the threat of an attack on the grid “extremely serious” and said the bill would provide tools needed to counter it.

While the measure was approved without dissent, several lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, characterized the bill as a work in progress, cautioning that it may give FERC too much new authority.

These members included Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the committee’s chairman emeritus, and Reps. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and John Shimkus, R-Ill.

The legislation would add a new section to the Federal Power Act, giving FERC the authority to issue emergency orders if the president determines that a “grid security threat” exists.

Such a threat is defined as substantial likelihood of a cyber attack or electromagnetic weapon attack, a geomagnetic storm, or a direct physical attack, with a significant adverse effect on the reliability of the bulk electric system or defense critical electric infrastructure.

Tags: Crime, Cyber Security, Electric Grid, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission