FERCs Initiativeson Energy Infrastructure.ppt

FERC’s Initiativeson Energy Infrastructure Alison Silverstein Federal Energy Regulatory Comm’n EEI-AGA Board Member Seminar September 25, 2003 Overview Short-term initiatives Cost recovery policy and cases Critical energy infrastructure information Dam safety Natural gas deliverability Cyber-security Supporting industry and other efforts Long-term concerns Security cost recovery Policy – spend what you need to protect assets and we’ll review and approve prudent expenses Issued September 14, 2001 3 requests approved, more filings coming Critical energy infrastructure information Goal to protect information asset-owners must submit from widespread public dissemination, without harming public’s right to learn information to participate in siting proceedings Keeps locational information and key engineering detail off the web and out of public reading rooms; review of each requester and purpose of request Rule adopted February, 2003 /home/RM02-4-02-21-03.pdf Dam safety program Formed FERC hydro security team Security program for hydropower projects - guidance for licensees Initial assessments and security enhancement guidance for specific dams; ongoing inspections Integration of security concerns with emergency action plans and procedures Rapid alert notification method for information dissemination Consultation (w/ industry and government agencies) and training (FERC staff and industry) Natural gas supplies Working with industry to determine ability to assure gas delivery in the event of pipeline disruptions Emergency reconstruction Assessing deliverability relative to needs Emergency gas reallocation Regional table-top disaster exercises coming up Using non-public technical conferences to resolve security issues in specific cases Cyber-security FERC asked industry, through NERC, to develop cyber-security standards to address bulk power grid cyber inter-dependencies These are generic and least common denominator, not “best practices” Since cyber systems and challe