Grid Security

On April 16, 2013 our nation was made aware of one of its most vulnerable targets for domestic terrorism…. the electric grid. Snipers managed to shoot out 17 large transformers with AK-47 assault rifles at the Metcalf transmission substation just south of San Jose, California. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) responded by issuing a directive to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to develop physical security standards that now require power grid system owners and operators to ensure the physical security of the grid.

The new security standards, mandated by FERC to be completed by June 5, 2014, include 3 steps:

• Owners and operators must perform a risk assessment to identify facilities that are critical;
• Once identified, owners and operators must evaluate all potential threats to those sites and,
• Owners and operators must develop and implement a security plan.

Navco Special Services is currently working directly with utility companies, contractors, and consultants in the electrical transmission and distribution industry to provide reasonable and affordable anti-ballistic materials and solutions to this most critical and urgent vulnerability in America’s infrastructure.