Grid Security & Reliability
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FERC expands cybersecurity supply chain standards to low-impact assets
“To not protect these [bulk electric system] assets against one of the most frequent attack scenarios — supply chain — would be a big mistake,” said Willie Phillips, acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
By Ethan Howland • March 16, 2023 -
Courtesy of Entergy
OpinionExtreme weather events are expanding — the US power grid is not
FERC, governors, state regulators and utilities should focus their efforts on interregional transmission development by encouraging investments that will yield significant long-term benefits.
By Barbara Tyran • March 16, 2023 -
Explore the Trendline
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TrendlineThe Utility Dive Outlook on 2023
2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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CISA launches ransomware warning pilot for critical infrastructure providers
The Joint Ransomware Task Force is coordinating the program, called the Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot, actively warning organizations about internet-accessible vulnerabilities linked to known threat actors.
By David Jones • March 15, 2023 -
Courtesy of Bechtel
NERC issues alert, recommendations to solar resources following inverter-based grid disturbances
The rapid interconnection of inverter-based resources “poses a high risk to grid reliability,” warned the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
By Robert Walton • March 15, 2023 -
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EPA, DOE issue framework for maintaining grid reliability during energy transition
The agencies will consider “short-term interventions” to address emerging reliability risks, according to the agreement released Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023 -
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California regulators set to launch proceeding to investigate natural gas price spikes this winter
With natural-gas fired generators producing about half of the state's electricity, the CPUC is looking at how high gas prices have affected California's power markets.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2023 -
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New White House cyber strategy could drive utility costs higher, warns security expert
A national approach to cybersecurity will likely mean higher costs for utilities and the communities they serve, said Ethan Schmertzler, CEO of operational technology security firm Dispel.
By Robert Walton • March 6, 2023 -
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White House releases national cyber strategy, shifting security burden
The long-anticipated policy will push the technology industry to shoulder more of the load for cyber risk, while promoting long-term investments and global cooperation against common threats.
By David Jones • March 2, 2023 -
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Deep DiveDuke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs
Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023 -
APS parent Pinnacle West’s 2022 net income plunges 22% on disallowed cost recovery
Arizona regulators denied APS recovery of more than $200 million it spent to modernize the Four Corners coal plant. As a result, the company “faced major financial headwinds” last year, officials said.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2023 -
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DOE announces $48M to improve semiconductor technologies for better grid control and protection
The program will be managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and will focus on improving semiconductors, which are essential components in controlling power generation and transmission.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2023 -
Hackers are ‘increasingly bold,’ NERC warns, as Dragos report identifies new grid threats
Security firm Dragos is now tracking 20 hacking groups targeting operational technology and industrial control systems, with a growing number focused on energy infrastructure.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2023 -
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Deep DiveNew power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say
Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023 -
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FERC OKs cold weather reliability standards for US generators but orders NERC to address shortcomings
Proposals from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. were considered “not up to the task." FERC directed the grid watchdog organization to bolster them, partly by setting certain deadlines.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023 -
Retrieved from Texas Senate .
Texas Sen. Menéndez: Performance credit could take years to implement, but efficiency and DR are immediate
An overhaul of the Texas energy market could take years to implement while energy-saving measures could be launched “today, tomorrow, the next day,” said state Sen. José Menéndez, D.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2023 -
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FERC rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast complaint alleging ISO-NE bias towards gas plants
Amid a wintertime reliability threat, the agency should propose a solution for New England instead of waiting for the grid operator to offer one, Commissioner Allison Clements said.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023 -
" TVA nuclear plant " by Tennessee Valley Authority is licensed under CC BY 2.0
NRC issues first update of 2010 regulatory guide to strengthen cybersecurity at nuclear plants
The revision incorporates references to industry guidance on identifying and protecting critical digital assets. It also clarifies guidance on comprehensive protections for cybersecurity.
By Stephen Singer • Feb. 13, 2023 -
Courtesy of AlphaStruxure
US microgrid market to grow 19% annually through 2027, Wood Mackenzie projects
Microgrids continue to add capacity as green initiatives spur development, but high costs associated with renewable technology remain a challenge, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.
By Henrik Nilsson • Feb. 8, 2023 -
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Sunrun, PG&E to roll out 30-MW virtual power plant to support California grid in the summer
Sunrun will create the virtual power plant by enrolling up to 7,500 existing and new rooftop solar and battery systems in PG&E’s footprint.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 7, 2023 -
Retrieved from UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the District of Maryland .
FBI thwarts neo-Nazi plot to attack Baltimore Gas & Electric substations, ‘completely destroy’ city
Two suspects were charged in federal court in Maryland with plotting to attack utility substations with firearms. Experts say the plan could have resulted in widespread outages.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2023 -
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Texas wind energy freeze-out shows need for better resource adequacy, says NRG VP
Renewable energy underperformed in Texas during the Feb. 1 winter storm but outperformed fossil fuels during December's winter storm Elliott, said NRG Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Travis Kavulla.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2023 -
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OpinionNew England policymakers have the tech and funds for energy security. They just need to act.
Distributed renewable energy — especially when paired with energy storage — can provide near-term relief to high power prices while improving reliability.
By Mike Judge • Feb. 3, 2023 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
Deep Dive‘No regrets’ approach to big batteries, green hydrogen and grid reliability urgently needed, analysts say
Advanced batteries and green hydrogen promise long-duration energy storage solutions for “net zero” system reliability, but only regulatory policy and market support can fulfill that promise, industry stakeholders say.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2023 -
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Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’ public-private collaborative to focus on energy, water
The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative dedicated its 2023 agenda to particularly vulnerable sectors and open source use in industrial systems.
By David Jones • Jan. 30, 2023 -
" Diablo Canyon Family Open House " by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
California’s plan to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant online hits regulatory snag
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected PG&E’s request to resume the review of a 2009 relicensing application for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, but PG&E plans to to file a new one by the end of 2023.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 30, 2023
