House panel tackles draft bill boosting FERC authority to meet cyber threats

摘要

Power group officials and FERC on Thursday clashed over a House subcommittee discussion draft that would amend the Federal Power Act to give the commission emergency authority to address cybersecurity threats to the bulk power system.rnAt a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on energy and air quality, Chairman Joseph Kelliher and representatives from the American PublicrnPower Association, Edison Electric Institute and Electric Power Supply Association disagreed over how to define the term "cybersecurity threat" and whether FERC's authority should extend to "other national security threats." Discord also exists regarding an appropriate sunset provision for any emergency measures taken by the commission to address a cyber threat. "While the associations could not reach closure with FERC on these three issues, this should not overshadow the substantial progress we did make in the negotiations regarding draft legislation," Susan Kelly, APPA vice president of policy analysis and general counsel, told the subcommittee.