Priya Patel
TLDR:
- The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have released cybersecurity baselines for electric distribution systems and distributed energy resources infrastructure.
- This initiative aims to strengthen the security of these critical systems and provide uniform expectations for cybersecurity.
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have collaborated to release a set of cybersecurity baselines for electric distribution systems and distributed energy resources infrastructure. These baselines aim to enhance the security of these critical systems and provide uniform expectations for cybersecurity. Developed based on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s cybersecurity performance goals, this initiative is funded by the DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.
Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser and a two-time Wash100 awardee, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and cybersecurity of the electricity systems for Americans. The cybersecurity baselines released by NARUC and DOE mark the first step towards achieving this goal. In a separate announcement, NARUC revealed plans to begin Phase 2 implementation of the cybersecurity baselines initiative by the end of 2024. This phase will assist operators in prioritizing assets and implementing cybersecurity measures based on cyber risk assessments.
