Listen To WPR online Live Streaming Page Archive Streaming Page Click here to support WPR! Return to the WPR Home Page
Explore WPR
WPR Home
Support WPR!
Support WPR's Online Community!
Contact Us
About WPR
Newsletters and Reports
Studios, Stations and Program Schedules
Station Coverage Maps, Reception and Technical Issues
WPR Program Index
The Ideas Network
The NPR News and Classical Network
WPR News
Internet Webcasting
WPR's National SHows
The Radio Store
Related Links

WPR Programs
Search wpr.org
This Month's Featured Stories
NEWS LINKS: WPR News Home | Bureaus | Reporters | Awards
FEATURES: Specials, Series & Documentaries | Wisconsin Vote | Wisconsin Life | StoryCorps
PSC RESPONDS TO POWER GRID THREAT REPORT WPR News - PSC responds to power grid threat report
Thursday November 15, 2012 by Chuck Quirmbach

The State Public Service Commission says it's been pushing the electric power industry to protect against terrorism. The national study released yesterday said the U.S.  power grid is "inherently vulnerable to terrorist attacks."

The National Research Council completed the report in 2007. But the sponsoring agency, the Department of Homeland Security, decided a study that concludes terrorist attacks could do much more damage to the electric power system than natural disasters and decided to keep the findings secret.

Scientists pushed to get the report released, and now it's mostly available except for certain instructions. The document says high voltage transformers near electric substations are of special concern. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin says it's been talking with regional electric reliability agencies to enforce federal standards to protect critical infrastructure, including cyber security for the electric grid.

The PSC says it's also working with electric companies to secure control centers and software. A national workshop is being planned to discuss what's changed since 2007 and where the grid should be made safer.

You can also listen to this story or download it now! (1:02)



Support for WPR provided by

Shop Now!



Support WPR!


HOME | ABOUT | PROGRAM INDEX | MEMBERSHIP | SPONSORSHIPS | WPR NEWS
IDEAS NETWORK | NEWS & CLASSICAL NETWORK | RADIO STORE
LIVE STREAMS | AUDIO ARCHIVES

For questions or comments about our programming, call Audience Services
at 1-800-747-7444, email us at listener@wpr.org, or use our Online Feedback Form.
View our Privacy Policy.   Send comments about our website to webmaster@wpr.org.

©2013 by Wisconsin Public Radio - a service of the
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
and University of Wisconsin - Extension.