Dive Summary:

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Jon Wellinghoff is pushing for the authority to enforce security measures in the utility industry, citing a lack of “adequate authority.”
• Former CIA Director James R. Woolsey spoke about the need to address grid security attacks in March and said that a single attack on the electric grid could take down major food, water, and communications networks.
• The White House administration is considering an executive order if the Senate can’t agree on a new bill regarding cybersecurity issues facing the utility industry.

From the article:

In the middle of an election year, and amid repeated calls for a smart grid transition, the chairman of the United State Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is voicing his concern over a lack of utility cybersecurity authority. According to Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, the situation is urgent. ...