Physical Security of Electric Infrastructure (R.15-06-009)

Initiated in June 2015 in response to passage of Senate Bill 699, proceeding R.15-06-009, now concluded and closed, directed the Commission "to consider rules to address the physical security of the distribution systems of electric corporations."

Utility Annual Reports Submitted to the Commission in Accordance with Requirements of Public Utilities Code Section 590 (click here).

  

Rulemaking Milestones:

January 22, 2019 - By a 4-0 vote, the Commission on January 22, 2019, approved the Physical Security Decision, D.19-01-018, marking California as the first state in the nation to adopt rules to safeguard its electric distribution grid against terrorist attack. In response, California’s electric utilities have prepared threat assessments and security plans that identify “critical” assets and propose security mitigation measures. Adoption of D.19-01-018 marks another milestone in the CPUC’s Safety Policy Division carrying out the Legislature’s directives of SB 699 and Public Utilities Code Section 364 to ensure the security and resilience of those electric distribution grid assets subject to Commission oversight.

In January 2018, SPD’s Risk Assessment section published a staff white paper Security and Resilience for California Electric Distribution Infrastructure: Regulatory and Industry Response to SB 699. The report assesses the readiness of California’s electric utility companies to respond to a terrorist attack and the grid’s ability to withstand such an organized attack,and makes recommendations for low-cost mitigations and approaches to enhance grid security and reduce the prospects and damage of any such future incident. The white paper also provides extensive background on California and Federal steps to establish physical security protocols for the electricity sector,and describes Commission staff's approach to the problem.

In 2017, in support of the proceeding, SPD's Risk Assessment section facilitated four public workshops and convened a technical working group to advance understanding of the issues surrounding physical security, elicit input and expertise from experts and stakeholders, and to reach broad consensus on a set of challenges and opportunities.

In 2015, SB 697 amended Public Utilities Code Section 364 and added Public Utilities Code Section 590, which had the effect of relocating within the Public Utilities Code the language prescribing utility annual reporting requirements.

In 2014, SB 699 amended Public Utilities Code Section 364 to clarify the Commission's broad authority over physical security standards for the California electric distribution grid.

 

Links to Key Documents:

• PacifiCorp Final Distribution Security Plan July 12, 2021

• Southern California Edison Final Distribution Security Plan Report July 12, 2021

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company - Final Security Plan Report July 12, 2021

• Bear Valley Electrical Service Final Security Plan Report July 12, 2021

  • Bear Valley Electrical Service – Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (Redacted)
  • Bear Valley Electrical Service Threat Mitigation Recommendations (Redacted)

• Liberty Final Physical Security Plan July 10, 2021

  • Appendix A – Liberty Preliminary Physical Security Assessment of Priority Facilities
  • Appendix B Liberty Physical Security Assessment Results (Public)
  • Appendix E – Cooper Compliance Corporation Third Party Evaluation of Liberty’s Physical Security Plan
    
    

• San Diego Gas and Electric Distribution Security Plan July 9, 2021

• Proposed Decision, November 9, 2018, Physical Security of Electrical Corporations, Attachment 1 to the Proposed Decision
• Administrative Law Judge Kelly’s Ruling Allowing Comments on Commission Staff Recommendations for the Joint Utility Proposal January 16, 2018
• Commission Staff Recommendation for Commission Consideration January 4, 2018 
• Commission Staff Physical Security White Paper January 2018
• Updated Utility Draft Proposal for Physical Security Regulations August 31, 2017
• Administrative Law Judge Kelly Ruling Issuing Workshop Notes and Request for Straw Proposals July 12, 2017
• Administrative Law Judge Kelly Scoping Memo March 10, 2017  
• Order to Initiate Rulemaking 15-06-009 June 11, 2015  
• Commission Staff White Paper, Regulation of Physical Security for the Electric Distribution System February 2015
• Authorizing legislation, SB 699, chaptered September 25, 2014

Stakeholder Engagement Program

Workshop 1, May 2, 2017 at CalOES, Mather, CA

     Information Sharing, Protection, and Confidentiality | Establishing Proceeding Rules of Engagement for Input and

Testimony on Sensitive Subjects | Establishing Protocols for Data Access and Transfer

             Agenda

 SED Introductory slides

 

Workshop 2, May 31, 2017 at CPUC Auditorium, SF

     State, Federal, and Industry Standards and Responses; NERC CIP-014 and the post-Metcalf Environment          

            Agenda

            NERC presentation, Carl Herron

            SMUD presentation, James Day

  

Workshop 3, June 21, 2017 at Southern California Edison, Rosemead

       How SB 699 Legislative Directive Informs CPUC Response and Responsibility; Threat Assessment, Critical Substation

Protections and Incident Response and Resiliency

            Agenda    

            SED Introductory slides  

            Data Gathering on Physical Security Incidents, Martin Kurtovich   

            Protecting Critical Electric Distribution Infrastructure, Harford Field III, Corporate Risk Solutions, Inc.

            Business Resiliency at SCE, Robert Kang   

            Incident Response and Resiliency, Stephen LaFond, Riverside Public Utilities   

            Joint Utility Straw Proposal slides    

            SDGE Draft Dist Security Proposal Discussion  

 

Workshop 4, September 29, 2017 at California Public Utilities Commission Headquarters, San Francisco, CA

            Agenda 

            SED Slides Workshop 4 

            Physical Security Overview 

            Draft SED Recommendations