Review of power-grid security ordered by feds after attacks
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have ordered a review of security standards at the nation’s far-flung electricity transmission network, following shootings at two electric substations in North Carolina that damaged equipment and caused more than 45,000 customers to lose power.
The order by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission directs officials to study the effectiveness of existing reliability standards for the physical security of the nation’s power grid and determine whether they need to be improved.
“The security and reliability of the nation’s electric grid is one of FERC’s top priorities,” FERC Chairman Richard Glick said at a commission meeting last week.
“In light of the increasing number of recent reports of physical attacks on our nation’s infrastructure, it is important that we fully and clearly review the effectiveness of our existing physical security standard to determine whether additional improvements are necessary to safeguard the bulk power system,’’ Glick said.
The order came less than two weeks after one or more people drove up to two substations in central North Carolina, breached the gates and opened fire on them. Outages began shortly after the Dec. 3 nighttime attack and lasted several days before power was restored to almost all households in Moore County four days later.
As power was restored, Duke Energy Corp., which owns the two North Carolina substations, reported gunfire Dec. 7 near another Duke facility in South Carolina. Law enforcement officials have found no evidence linking the incidents, although agencies continue to investigate.
At least four electrical substations have been targeted in separate attacks in Oregon and Washington state since November, Oregon Public Broadcasting and other outlets reported. Attackers used firearms in at least some of the incidents, and some power customers in Oregon temporarily lost service.
Grid security experts have said the attacks demonstrate anew the vulnerability of the nation’s electric grid, which includes more than 50,000 substations and more than 700,000 miles of transmission lines.
Power transformers are highly visible in thousands of sites across the country and “are really vulnerable — sometimes to a drunk with a gun and an attitude,’’ said FERC commissioner Mark Christie. “We have a lot of incidents of that. That’s not unusual. The substations are a different ballgame.’’
He called the North Carolina attack “sophisticated” and noted it caused outages for more than 40,000.
While officials are likely to recommend changes such as high-definition cameras, 24-hour surveillance or opaque walls, “How are we going to pay for all the upgrades?’’ asked Christie, a Republican who has served on the panel since 2020.
“I hope this does not flow through to ratepayers,’’ he said.