Jim Patterson with Observations on Policies to Protect US Electrical Grid

Dear Mr. Patterson: Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding the vulnerability of our nation’s electrical grid.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and welcome the opportunity to respond. I share your concerns about the security of our energy infrastructure.  As you know, the grid faces risks from cyber-attacks, solar flares, electromagnetic events, and other threats.  California, perhaps more than any other state, has seen firsthand the consequences that result from disruptions in reliable electric service. There were a number of bills introduced in last Congress to address these threats.  Senator Edward Markey’s (D-MA) “Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act” (S. 2158) would have authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to address physical, cyber, electromagnetic pulse, and other potential threats that could compromise our nation’s electric grid and energy infrastructure.  Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) introduced two bills, the “Secure High-voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage Act” (H.R. 2417) and the “Critical Infrastructure Protection Act” (H.R. 3410), which would have directed the federal government to implement emergency protective measures to protect the bulk-power system and critical electric infrastructure from threats such as electromagnetic pulse and electrical storms.  However, none of these bills came to a vote before the 113th Congress adjourned.  Accordingly, they will need to be reintroduced in the 114th Congress in order to be considered. It may interest you to know that on February 7, 2014, I joined three of my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation urging them to consider stronger federal standards on physical security at critical substations to ensure the reliable operation of the bulk power system.  I am pleased to report that they are now in the process of preparing new physical security standards.  I have enclosed a copy of the letter for your review. In addition, the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability at the Department of Energy funds research and development of new technologies and protocols to secure the electricity grid.  I supported the 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (Public Law 113-235), legislation that funds the federal government through September 2015, which President Obama signed into law on December 16, 2014.  This law provides $147 million for grid secrutiy efforts, which is consistent with funding levels for fiscal year 2014, and includes $46 million specifically for cyber security and $6 million for infrastructure security.  Please know that I have made careful note of your concerns and will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind should similar legislation be considered by the full Senate. Again, thank you for your letter.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at http://feinstein.senate.gov.  Best regards. Sincerely yours,   Dianne Feinstein          United States Senator Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the nation are available at my website, feinstein.senate.gov. And please visit my YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for more ways to communicate with me. Jim Note: I became interested in electromagnetic pulse and radio frequency threats to electrical infrastructure after hearing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich discuss the subject in 2011. The cyber threats have gone on for years as a John Kerry-like "nuisance" but are at critical level in 2016. I was in San Francisco when the shooters tried to take down a Pacific Gas and Electric Power substation by rifle shots. No matter how much companies invest in software to fight off cyber threats a gunman, terrorist or some lunatic with knowledge or training can do damage and in California and Silicon Valley such a physical attack can easily lead to a a national security crisis.  So Senator Feinstein's work to counter physical attacks is also important.