FERC Takes the Reigns on Cyber Security

by Bill Fester on September 27, 2012

in Industries, Power

By: Charlene Wright

From: Pipeline Law Blog

 

Earlier this month, FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff commented on cyber security being among his chief concerns.  No surprise, as we’ve been hearing  alerts and warnings from PHMSA and Homeland Security in response to recent threats to U.S. natural gas companies.  While there are multiple agencies that are grappling with this issue, the FERC took the lead with the announcement of a new Office of Energy Infrastructure Security (OEIS). While OEIS will be the coordinating agency, operators can expect input from other federal and state regulators on effective measure to prevent and mitigate security breaches.  OEIS is charged with forming strategies to identify potential physical and cyber threats and make recommendations to other agencies as well as to energy facilities under FERC jurisdiction.

OEIS will be led by Joseph McClelland, who has been director of the Office of Electric Reliability since its formation in 2006. The Office of Electric Reliability will be led by Ted Franks, who will serve as acting director.

Read Chairman Wellinghoff’s full statement on OEIS.

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