Can American’s Power Grid Weather a Cyber Attack?

"Can American’s Power Grid Weather a Cyber Attack"

Valentine’s Day 2021 brought delicatessen chocolates for many couples, and it brought me an enchanting bubble bath. But just like a bad romance, the next day there were no chocolate stores open, and any future hopes for bubble baths fizzled due to no water and broken pipes. Storm Uri ushered in a bitter winter storm that not even a well equipped cowboy with a saddle could survive. Record low temperatures were as cold as seven degrees Fahrenheit, many communities’ water supply was not safe to drink for an entire week, and electric utility companies introduced Texans to the “Rolling Blackout”. The blackout was like Texas style musical chairs- when the music stops, or in this case the electricity shuts off, you cannot do anything but take a seat. The purpose of rolling blackouts was to prevent a total black out and to reduce the use of excessive electricity. However, my inclination for attention to technical details must ask: could Texas or the entire U.S. survive a full blackout not only from bad weather but possibly from a cyber-attack as well? If legislators successfully investigate and find that Texas has a shotty electrical grid, the findings could shine a light on possible vulnerabilities for cyberattacks. The Ukraine power grid was attacked by hackers, and Ukrainians went without electricity for six hours. Reflecting on the result of the Ukraine blackout, what precautions has the U.S. made? What did the administration do during this time of adversity? During that time, could an assessment of cyber threats and overall testing of power grid survival during inclement weather have saved groceries, water, and lives?

This is just my Technical Tebibits.

Santina A. White

Santina White