National Academies report finds grid vulnerable to cyber, physical attacks

Jul 24

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concludes the United States’ electric grid is vulnerable to a range of threats, including terrorism or natural disasters that could potentially cause long-term and widespread blackouts.
The report called on the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security to work with utility operators and other stakeholders to improve cyber and physical security and resilience.
NASEM said the report committee focused on reducing the grid’s vulnerability to large blackouts that “extend over several service areas or states and last three days or longer.”