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:

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

     

    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