PCCA Journal|4
th
Quarter 2012
39
F
ederal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission Chairman Jon Welling-
hoff on September 20 announced
the creation of a new FERC office that
will help the commission focus on po-
tential cyber and physical security risks
to energy facilities under its jurisdiction.
The new Office of Energy Infrastruc-
ture Security (OEIS) will provide leader-
ship, expertise, and assistance to the
commission to identify, communicate,
and seek comprehensive solutions to po-
tential risks to FERC-jurisdictional facili-
ties from cyber attacks and such physical
threats as electromagnetic pulses.
“Creating this office allows FERC to
leverage its existing resources with those
of other government agencies and pri-
vate industry in a coordinated, focused
manner,” Wellinghoff said. “Effective
mitigation of cyber and other physical at-
tacks requires rapid interactions among
regulators, industry, and federal and
state agencies.”
OEIS will focus on:
• Developing recommendations for
identifying, communicating, and
mitigating potential cyber and physical
security threats and vulnerabilities to
FERC-jurisdictional energy facilities
using the commission’s existing statu-
tory authority;
• Providing assistance, expertise, and
advice to other federal and state
agencies, jurisdictional utilities, and
Congress in identifying, communicat-
ing, and mitigating potential cyber and
physical threats and vulnerabilities to
FERC-jurisdictional energy facilities;
• Participating in interagency and
intelligence-related coordination and
collaboration efforts with appropri-
ate federal and state agencies and
industry representatives on cyber and
physical security matters related to
FERC-jurisdictional energy facilities
including participating in conferences,
workshops, and classified briefings;
and
• Conducting outreach with private
sector owners, users, and operators
of energy delivery systems regard-
ing identification, communication,
and mitigation of cyber and physical
threats to FERC-jurisdictional energy
facilities.
New FERC Office to Focus on Cyber Security
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