"Cybersecurity Standards for Electric Grid Seen Expanding"

"The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposed to revise its cybersecurity standards for the nation’s electric grid, expanding the rules to more than 60 additional companies."

"The agency today voted to start the process for updating the existing critical infrastructure protection standards. The revisions are aimed at enhancing the “security posture” of companies that link to the grid, according to a FERC statement.

Cybersecurity is becoming a critical issue for electric utilities as components such as generators, power meters and appliances are interconnected using the Internet. White House National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon said in a March 11 speech that the U.S. is concerned about 'cyber intrusions emanating from China at a very large scale.'

The standards proposed by the FERC will cover at least 61 companies in addition to about 1,100 subject to current rules, agency staff said after a commission meeting. The names of the additional companies aren’t public."

Brian Wingfield reports for Bloomberg News April 18, 2013.

Source: Bloomberg, 04/19/2013