Substation Physical Security Best Practices

This discussion will cover industry implementation of CIP-014-2, its challenges and an overview of best practices. We will also discuss the tools and methods for conducting vulnerability and threat assessments.  What information to share and the partnership with EISAC will also be reviewed.

Carl Herron, Senior Manager Physical Security Analysis, Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), NERC

Emerging risks of high impact, low frequency events affecting the U.S. bulk electric transmission grid require a pro-active and robust resiliency and recovery plan.  The availability of sufficient long lead items such as large power transformers and circuit breakers is an important element to recovery from a large-scale event.  Grid Assurance offers an industry-led, cost-effective solution to mitigate the impact of these events by pooling the inventory needs of transmission owning utilities across the country and providing access to a shared pool of spare equipment that can be readily deployed following a qualifying event.  This session will provide an update on progress of the Grid Assurance service model and insight into key questions regarding inventory, storage and delivery logistics following an event.    

Jeff Fleeman, Chief Operating Officer, Grid Assurance

 In today’s world, it can be argued that you can’t have cyber security without physical security, however many newly developed physical security solutions require effective cyber security to operate as desired. David Batz will discuss current trends in cyber security including the recent attack on the electric grid in the Ukraine and discuss lessons learned for electric utilities as well as physical security managers. 

David Batz, Senior Director, Cyber & Infrastructure Security, Edison Electric Institute

As our systems grow and our security accountabilities increase, we are left with the question of who and how to best monitor these systems.  Who is best equipped to know the ramifications of a physical security incident at the wide variety of sites included in the electrical utility footprint and how to convey this real time information to the other participants within the security operation center.  As our company transitions to a more pro-active security stance, decisions made today will affect the place our physical security monitors have at the table.

Wayne Svilar, Corporate Security Manager, Portland General Electric

This interactive session will discuss the approach for security at Lansing Board of Water and Light with a focus on information exchange and how security at generation facilities and substations are similar.  

Ryan Cressman, Supervisor, Security Operations, Lansing Board of Water and Light

Dan Barnes, Supervisor, Security Infrastructure, Lansing Board of Water and Light

After planning, designing and installing a sophisticated physical security system at one or multiple locations, commissioning can often create challenges of its own. This presentation will walk users through a typical security equipment system commissioning process, go over some of the challenges they may face, and discuss methods for mitigating potential hurdles before they arise. 

Terry Harless, Senior Physical Security Specialist, Burns & McDonnell

Gary Schworm, Vice President, Elite Contracting Group

Substation physical security is an incredibly important aspect of the overall reliability of the US electric grid. When designing the physical security system for a new or existing station, there are numerous design considerations that need to be considered. These depend on the overall security posture of the utility, the equipment in the station, the current and ultimate layout of the site, as well as specific environmental and local, municipal and state guidelines and requirements. It is also extremely important to understand the overall objectives of the security system when selecting the types of fence material and detection devices.

Brian Kelley, Senior Manager, Sargent & Lundy

A presentation detailing the events, recovery and lessons learned from an Eco-terrorism event that occurred on September 25, 2016 when thousands of Garkane Energy Cooperative members had their electrical power service knocked off line by an individual who shot a 138/69 kV substation transformer multiple times with a high powered rifle, leading to an internal fault within the transformer.

Bryant Shakespear, Planning Engineer, Garkane Energy Cooperative

Review the challenges and lessons learned from incidents at Western Area Power Administration’s substations with a focus on Liberty Substation. Their suggested security standards and protocols will be reviewed and discussed as well.

Trent Foster, Physical Security, Western Area Power Administration

This discussion will review the best practices developed at Xcel Energy for their substations and delve into the lessons learned from implementing various applications and systems. Individual case studies will be reviewed as well as the overall corporate substation security plan will be discussed.

Jeff Imsdahl, CPP, PSP, Director of Security, Xcel Energy

This presentation outlines the role of passive and active perimeter security barriers and procedures in an effective holistic approach for physical site security, addresses recent developments and innovations with regard to design/build technologies, BIM, Matrix Perimeter Security Solutions Platform, Grounded Impasse; protecting substations, assets and facilities relative to homeland security. Establishing and maintaining the perimeter of a facility or asset is a key component to an effective physical site security program. After defining the anticipated threats, physical security products and procedures can be put into place and implemented to better achieve the protection objectives. Fences, barriers, gates, bollards, and pedestrian and vehicular access control systems establish the perimeter. These products can be integrated with intrusion detection sensors, cameras, lighting, and communication equipment to effectively deter, deny, delay, detect, and respond to threats. Policies can be adopted to address procedural security threats. Recent product developments (with test video clips), design/build technologies, and procedures will be highlighted and discussed, focusing on a holistic approach to physical site security.

Mark B Kirby, Market Manager – Power Utility, Ameristar Perimeter Security USA Inc., an ASSA ABLOY Group brand

 We will discuss the most appropriate methods of deploying sensor cables for the different types of fences and barriers used to secure the perimeter of substations.  

Rod Hurley, North American Sales Manager, Fiber SenSys, Inc.