FERC reviews grid cybersecurity protection

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WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- A dozen new requirements for cybersecurity controls would help ensure the protection of the U.S. electrical grid, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said.

FERC announced it was moving to strengthen cybersecurity standards through 12 requirements under the Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards.

"(The proposal) also would use a new, tiered approach to identifying and classifying bulk electric system cyber assets that is a step toward applying CIP protections more comprehensively to better assure protection of the bulk electric system," the agency said.

James Clapper, the top U.S. intelligence official, told the Senate Intelligence Committee last month that a major cyberattack on the United States posed a more grave and immediate threat than terrorism.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, said "the gravest threat of state-sponsored cyberattacks comes from Russia, Iran and particularly China."

FERC said it was seeking public comment on the proposed CIP revisions for the next 60 days.