Grid Security & Reliability: Page 2
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Xcel launches microgrid-based resiliency service for large Minnesota commercial, industrial customers
In Wisconsin, where the Empower Resiliency program was already offered, Xcel reached a deal to develop energy assets to power the Bayfield County jail and courthouse.
By Robert Walton • April 26, 2023 -
The image by Wally Gobetz is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0Opinion
Texas legislators should consider alternatives to strengthen grid reliability before gambling on PCM
The proposed performance credit mechanism would not guarantee the development of any new generation capacity but would impose guaranteed new costs on Texas consumers.
By Zoe Parker • April 26, 2023 -
Trendline
Grid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
Outage duration, frequency and magnitude: Texas PUC staff backs ERCOT’s reliability framework
The Public Utility Commission of Texas is developing a grid reliability standard, and staff has recommended measuring a range of metrics while also keeping an eye on costs.
By Robert Walton • April 25, 2023 -
FERC approves incentive framework for voluntary cybersecurity investments
In the final rule, the federal agency dropped a proposed 2% return on equity from the incentives utilities can get for certain cyber investments.
By Ethan Howland • April 24, 2023 -
NREL, UL publish requirements for a new distributed energy resource cybersecurity standard
UL Solutions has published testing and certification requirements that will be converted into standard UL 2941 after review by the company’s standard technical panel.
By Robert Walton • April 24, 2023 -
Ransomware is a major threat to smaller utilities, manufacturers and health care providers: report
Median losses associated with a successful ransomware attack could threaten 30% of a small utility’s operating income, according to the new research.
By Robert Walton • April 18, 2023 -
NYISO: Transmission security margins sufficient for the state, but NYC faces reliability risks
“Potential heatwaves of various degrees pose risks throughout the next 10 years, especially in 2025,” NYISO said.
By Stephen Singer • April 17, 2023 -
NERC opposes expanding physical security rules for critical substations following Duke, PSE, other attacks
The scope of physical security rules for critical substations “appropriately focuses limited industry resources,” but other approaches may be considered, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Friday.
By Robert Walton • April 17, 2023 -
PJM asks FERC to help resolve LS Power, 7 other complaints about $1.8B in Winter Storm Elliott penalties
“There is value to a prompt resolution of these heavily contested non-performance charges … in a manner that does not lead to market disruption, defaults, bankruptcies and the physical loss of assets,” PJM said Friday.
By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2023 -
After months of Russian attacks, Ukraine’s grid resumes electricity exports to EU. How did it survive?
Despite its efforts, Ukraine lost approximately 10 GW of generation and 43% of its high voltage transmission network was destroyed in Russian attacks from October to February.
By Robert Walton • April 12, 2023 -
ABB plans $40M New Mexico plant to fortify US electric grid
The expansion comes as more electric utility providers embark on grid hardening initiatives.
By Megan Ruggles • April 11, 2023 -
Puerto Rico’s utility requests $8.2B in federal investment for grid reliability projects: LUMA
Federal funding will help LUMA develop clean energy microgrids and install grid automation technology to improve reliability, officials said.
By Robert Walton • April 7, 2023 -
Physical attacks on North American power grid rose more than 10% last year: NERC
The electric system is a "hyper complex risk environment," NERC President and CEO Jim Robb said. Software vulnerabilities are being discovered "at an unprecedentedly high rate."
By Robert Walton • April 6, 2023 -
California’s grid operator calls for $9.3B in transmission investments over next decade
The state’s forecasted electricity needs have been rapidly increasing, accelerating the pace at which new transmission infrastructure needs to be developed.
By Kavya Balaraman • April 6, 2023 -
Sponsored by Operant Networks
Cybersecurity: The case for zero trust in modern energy networks – part 2
Utility assets have traditionally been secured by proprietary communications links whose security depends on physical access control and operational obscurity.
April 3, 2023 -
Deep Dive
As California grid interconnection requests triple, analysts assess CAISO’s moves to handle the influx
The state’s current interconnection processes were designed around a cadence that won’t work as it moves towards much larger volumes of clean energy generation, experts say.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 30, 2023 -
Texas regulators question common reliability metric as they pursue new standard for ERCOT grid
Requiring planning margins to ensure load shedding occurs only once a decade is an outdated approach that ignores the realities of the modern power grid, some experts warn.
By Robert Walton • March 28, 2023 -
"Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
PG&E faces time crunch on Diablo Canyon license renewal as California weighs nuclear plant’s future
The utility, which plans to apply for a 20-year license renewal for the 2.2-GW plant at the end of 2023, will need to complete roughly five years of work in a year and a half, a company executive said.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 24, 2023 -
DOE cyber chief gets bipartisan grilling as senators question US reliance on China for grid equipment
U.S. lawmakers on Thursday pressed the head of DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response Preparedness for details about foreign-manufactured components but got few answers.
By Robert Walton • March 24, 2023 -
As CISA chief notes lack of Russian cyberattacks against US, experts focus on enhancing nuclear reactor security
Protecting the nation’s nuclear energy resources will require a balance of offensive and defensive capabilities, experts agree. There is also optimism for enhanced safety at advanced reactors.
By Robert Walton • March 23, 2023 -
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 -
Opinion
Extreme 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 -
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 -
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 -
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