CRS Reports – 1-14-23 – Grid Security

This week the Congressional Research Service published a report on “Electric Grid Physical Security: Recent Developments”. It provides a brief overview of recent physical attacks on power distribution substations as well as a description of the current regulatory framework regarding physical security for grid facilities, specifically noting that electric distribution substations are not subject to federal regulation by FERC and NERC.

The important part of any CRS report is the discussion of options that Congress has for addressing the issues identified in the report. Here, CRS notes that:

“The 118th Congress may continue to be concerned about the state of electric grid physical security, including the security of grid infrastructure not currently subject to NERC’s existing security standards. Among many specific issues of potential interest, Congress may consider the evolving physical threat environment, oversight of physical security implementation, the relationship between federal and state grid security initiatives, and the cost-effectiveness of any future security requirements. Congress may also examine tradeoffs between investments to “harden” grid infrastructure (e.g., physical barriers) and investments to make the grid more resilient to physical attacks (e.g., additional transmission lines). As CIP-014 implementation and other physical security initiatives proceed, Congress also may be concerned about the power sector’s overall progress in securing its infrastructure, including organizational and structural changes supporting physical security as a corporate priority.”