Smart Grid Blog

You’d be forgiven for thinking that with the recent excitement over the Stuxnet virus and other cyber threats, that this blogger believes security issues present the biggest challenge to the success of a national Smart Grid.

But there’s something else that threatens the grand Smart Grid project on an even more fundamental level: We all have to believe in the goodness of this work enough to see it through … even when there are setbacks. And sometimes it seems we might not.

via Smart Grid: The Smart Grid Threat That’s Even Bigger Than Security.

The first Smart Grid Cyber Security Summit was held recently in San Jose. IBM’s Andy Bochman, in his excellent Smart Grid Security blog (http://smartgridsecurity.blogspot.com) provides a good review of the proceedings, and I’ll add a few of my own thoughts.

The attendance of approximately 75 people was not bad for a first time event, but well below the typical 200-300 people drawn other smart grid conferences. There were few utilities present. My informal count was three, including invited panelists, with none from California. Interestingly, the California PUC was there in force. A similar cyber security event I spoke at in Washington, D.C. in June attracted no more than 25 people, despite a strong speaker lineup. Is cyber security simply not that high on the industry’s priority list?

via Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Smart Grid Security Experts… « Pike Research.

This is an interview with Mike Ahmadi, cyber security consultant and conference chairman of the Cyber Security Conference and Expo that took place last week in San Jose, California.

Issues to be addressed in smart grid security

Q: You opened the conference recognizing that smart grid security is only as strong as the  weakest link, with more endpoints and more interconnected networks, meaning more ways for security problems to arise. With this in mind, what is your objective for the Smart Grid Security Summit?

via Smart Grid Cyber Security: No Hype Allowed | MuniWireless.

While Smart Grid brings electricity distribution and transmission into modern digital age, its security is becoming a big concern. Cyber security experts have warned that hackers can break into the system and create a massive blackout across the country.

via Securing Smart Grid from Cyber Attacks.

NanoMarkets’ Smart Grid Analysis Group has issued a new report on opportunities in the Smart Grid distribution sector. The firm predicts that the global Smart Grid distribution market will approach $8.0 billion in revenues by 2015 driven by the need to automate distribution gear so as to enhance reliability in a world where power generation is highly decentralized and of many different types, and when there are also growing concerns about blackouts and grid security. This new report also prophesies the appearance of a new kind of Smart Grid transformer specially designed to meet the intelligence and efficiency needs of the Smart Grid.

via PR-USA.net – New Report From NanoMarkets’ Smart Grid Analysis Group Sees Markets for Smart Grid Distribution Equi.

Smart grid presents an opportunity to improve reliability and security but also requires constant vigilance and proactive steps to address new risks to automated metering.

A feature in Transmission & Distribution World’s July issue addresses cyber security and how it is critical to keeping the lights on. The article, by two experts in cyber security and IT compliance, explains where security standards are and how  they are being applied. They contend that security standards currently fall short of what is needed to provide maximum assurance of reliability.

via Protecting Your Smart Grid | Intelligent Energy Portal.

No one can say we weren’t warned about energy insecurities. In 1998, President Clinton signed a Presidential Directive that established a national program for critical infrastructure protection.  This directive stated that the energy sector of the United States was potentially vulnerable to cyber attack and that the United States would take all necessary measures to swiftly eliminate any significant cybervulnerabilities within this sector.

via Getting Ahead of Ourselves with Smart Energy | Security Management.

Cyber security spending will represent approximately 15% of total smart grid capital investment between now and 2015, according to a recent report from Pike Research.

As governments and utilities invest in smart grid deployments, the need for robust security measures has become increasingly apparent.

via 15% of Smart Grid Spending Will Be On Cyber Security.

As governments and utilities invest in smart grid deployments, the need for robust security measures has become increasingly apparent. Reports that would-be saboteurs have attempted to disrupt the security of the electrical power supply in the United States have added to the urgency for cyber security for the emerging smart grid. Among other motivators, one key condition for smart grid funding awarded last year under the federal stimulus program was that the awardees incorporate strong security into their smart grid initiatives.

via Smart Grid Cyber Security Market to Reach $3.7 Billion by 2015, According to Pike Research | Business Wire.

Investment in security for smart electrical-grid systems will grow tremendously over the next five years, according to a report released Wednesday by Pike Research.

With the U.S. electrical grid–and other national grids worldwide–poised to become smart systems with integrated communications, the possible threat of sabotage has become an obvious concern. To that end, the U.S. government has set aside funding to develop security protocols. Others are following suit.

via Smart grid security to become multibillion-dollar industry | Green Tech – CNET News.

A reference in a Team Cymru news alert drew my attention to an interesting media article about the security of smart meters, a fast-moving development which justifies a lot more scrutiny, public debate and policy.

Smart grids offer huge potential, not only for efficiency improvements, but also for a degree of remote manipulation and misuse. Utilities claim the meters have been extensively security tested, yet many respected security experts point to underlying vulnerabilities. And there are clearly some major governance issues concerning privacy, economics and consumer rights.

New technologies always present such challenges, especially from a security perspective.

via Securing emerging technologies – David Lacey’s IT Security Blog.

Concern over potential attacks on the nation’s electrical grid has prompted Unites States legislators to approve The Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act, better known as The GRID Act. If signed into law, the legislation would give the President sweeping new emergency powers over the U.S electrical grid. In addition, the bill would mandate widespread improvements in the electrical distribution system nationwide.

via U.S. Congress Looks to Protect Grid.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has warned energy suppliers to carefully handle customer data held on new smart meters.

The agency said it will be keeping a close eye on how domestic and business energy providers use the raft of private information stored in the devices amid security concerns.

via energyhelpline.com – ICO warns energy suppliers to safeguard data stored on smart meters.

Recently, hype around the Smart Grid, smart homes and smart meters has reached a fever pitch. Yet, many consumers are still figuring out what the term, “smart grid” actually means. According to a March 2010 Harris Poll, “two-thirds of Americans have never heard of it (68%) and 63% have not heard of a “smart meter.” It’s actually a pretty simple concept, though enormously difficult to deliver and implement the reality. The electricity grid is the vast, diverse collection of devices and equipment that delivers electricity from utilities to consumers. The Smart Grid refers to connecting those devices and that equipment into a network that is monitored and managed by computing resources. How one interprets “computing resources” is pretty broad, but Grid Net’s objective is to enable the Smart Grid with a secure, reliable, real-time, all-IP, standards-based and scalable software platform that can run on any device and leverage any type of broadband communications resource.

via CIO Master & Smart Grid Master: Securing the Smart Grid.

Vulnerable passwords, financial records or personal data are likely what first comes to mind when thinking of cyber-privacy and cyber-security. But if recent reports are to be believed, the newest and most pervasive threat to personal privacy could be the smart meter that public utilities departments are increasingly using to measure electricity consumption.

The U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 supercharged a movement that’s developing a power grid that gives power to users via digital technology. But some say this smart grid might be too smart for everyone's own good.

via States Ponder Privacy Concerns as Smart Grid Deployment Takes Shape.

Version 1 of a 400-page document on how utilities and vendors should secure the smart grid is due this summer, and the 450 volunteers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s cybersecurity working group are girding themselves for the final push.

Some of them have been meeting this week at a smart grid conference in Silicon Valley and have had some intense discussions on what needs to be done.

via Tracking the security of the smart grid – SmartPlanet.

Landis+Gyr announced it has signed an agreement with RSA, The Security Division of EMC, to provide enhanced security for its Gridstream™ smart grid network. Smart grid technologies have the power to transform electricity efficiency and reliability, and building security into the smart grid ecosystem from the start helps companies address potential vulnerabilities and risks to the system. The engagement between the two companies will build upon Landis+Gyr’s expertise in advanced metering infrastructure and applications, and RSA’s proven track record in security and information risk management.

via Landis+Gyr Teams Up With RSA, the Security Division of EMC, to Enhance Smart Grid Security | Earth Times News.

“The emerging technology that allows the integration of Home Area Network to the Smart Grid has added security concerns that have to be addressed especially with data, multi-application integration and communication networks,” said Chief Technology Officer Satish Chetty, PERI Software Solutions, Inc., one of the nation’s fastest growing Asian-owned, global business solutions companies, based in Newark, NJ with offices in San Jose, Los Angeles and Chennai, India. Chetty plans to speak on application security for Smart Grid technology at 2010 Smart Grid Technology Conference & Expo, hosted by San Diego Gas & Electric, June 2 -3, 2010, San Diego, CA.

via PERI Software to Discuss Application Security Considerations for a Smart Grid Infrastructure at San Diego Tech Conference.

I recently gave a talk on how power electronics will play a vital role in the creation of smart grids, promising to improve reliability while promoting a more distributed generation architecture coupled with a sensing/controls/communication backbone, such as that proposed in [1] referred to as Gen2PG, the second-generation power grid. One of the questions from the audience at the end of the talk was in reference to the security of a smart grid that relies on Internet-like technologies.

via How can we secure the smart grid?.

Grid stress is a real problem.  In addition to the economic threat there is a potentially greater national security risk.

As the U.S. Senate prepares to take up the climate bill, power companies anticipate a provision that would limit power plant emissions and impose a federal standard requiring a significant use of renewable energy resources.  However, many experts agree that bringing our aging power transmission and distribution infrastructure into the 21st century, a task that could take decades and cost in excess of $100 billion will present a stumbling block to delivering a significant amount of renewable energy.

via Microgrids are key to future energy strategy – TheHill.com.