FBI WARNS OF ATTACK ON U.S. ELECTRIC GRID; SDG&E REACTS

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By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reveals that attacks on the  power grid have occurred, the Arkansas Times reported on October 7.  The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to arrest of those responsible for these crimes.

The attacks included setting fire to a substation, rigging a cable in an attempt to cause a train to take down power lines, cutting down power poles, and downing a high voltage transmission line.  A warning painted on a control panel read, “You should have expected U.S.”

National security experts have long voiced concerns over a terrorist cyber-attack on the power grid. But the attacks  in August and September in Arkansas were of the low-tech variety, yet capable of major disruption. 

East County Magazine asked San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) if any recent local power outages could be the result of sabatoge and what steps the utility is taking to protect our power grid in San Diego County.

“SDG&E’s Corporate Security and Emergency Services are aware of the recent incidents,” SDG&E spokesperson Amber Albrecht responded via e-mail.  “While there have been no incidents of concern in this region, we have notified law enforcement in San Diego and Imperial Counties.”

Albrecht added that SDG&E has security measures in place on its system infrastructure and is prepared to respond to any security threats.

“SDG&E has a number of safety protocols on our system to ensure the safety and reliability of our system.  We continuously focus on promoting security around our system and we have taken numerous, proactive steps to strengthen and protect critical infrastructure as well as advanced technology from a range of potential threats,” she said. “Additionally, we deploy electronic monitoring and active patrols as necessary. From a transmission standpoint, we operate a network of transmission lines so that the bulk of our substations are fed from multiple directions and the same is true for most of our distribution system as well.”


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