(EEI, 24 July 2018)

EEI Vice President of Security and Preparedness, Scott Aaronson, issued a statement acknowledging the importance of cybersecurity in the face of repeated threats to US critical infrastructure. He noted that though there was a campaign to target US critical electric infrastructure in July 2017, the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) was able to quickly update its response to the threat and compiled an update “with potential indicators of compromise and other technical data.” With this update, North American electric power companies would be able to better “protect and defend” their systems. E-ISAC efforts also indicate the strong relationship between industry and the government – a relationship that is vital to maintaining a strong grid. Aaronson concluded his statement by stating that “there have been no operational impacts to the energy grid from these threats.”