Central Florida utility companies discuss security after attack on North Carolina substations
WESH 2 checked with Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light and Orlando Utilities Commission about how they make sure Central Florida's power grids are protected. Below are the responses from each company.
Duke Energy:
"As the largest grid operator in the country, our responsibility to protect the power grid is paramount and we have a topflight team of professionals who monitor and respond to threats 24/7.
We’re spending $75 billion over the next decade on grid improvements – which will include investments in making the electric grid more secure from cyber and physical threats.
Duke Energy uses a multilayered risk management strategy when it comes to grid protection, and that strategy evolves as threats do. Our proactive strategy has three core components:
- A robust physical defense system that meets – and exceeds – industry best practices.
- A cross functional team that manages 24/7 monitoring.
- Daily information sharing with our industry and government partners.
We monitor and meet all industry standards for protecting critical infrastructure and deploy additional security measures when appropriate.
An informed public that reports suspicious behavior is a powerful defense. If you see anything suspicious like a vehicle that’s not a Duke Energy car or truck near a substation, call 911. "
Florida Power & Light:
"We recognize that millions of Floridians rely on FPL every day for reliable electricity, and we take our duty to serve them extremely seriously. That’s why FPL has a robust, 24/7 security plan to continuously monitor and protect our critical infrastructure throughout Florida. Given the incident that occurred in North Carolina, our team is on heightened alert and in constant contact with law enforcement. As always, we remind customers that if they 'see something, say something' by reporting any suspicious activity to local law enforcement."
Orlando Utilities Commission:
“The Moore, North Carolina, event is a reminder that utilities must take all types of security – physical and cyber – seriously. OUC has devoted significant resources to safeguard our infrastructure. As we learn more, we’ll consider the lessons learned for our operations.”