S1.46B lost per day in LA blackout. A recent study published by the Society for Risk Analysis, funded by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) examined the consequences of terrorist attacks against Los Angeles ports and power systems. Over a two-week period, business interruption losses exceeded $20.5B. The losses were mitigated by the rescheduling of industrial production and other customer mitigation techniques. The study also concluded that the US electricity infrastructure is poorly safeguarded.

   QuickTake: Anyone interested in this topic should review several white papers issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on the characteristics of a modern grid that outline how the smart grid would resist attack and heal itself in the case of cyber attack.

   CREATE Report information

   USC Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events Web Site

   Modern Grid Initiative Characteristics of a Modern Grid

NERC cyber standards: Ten steps to compliance. The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) has published a report – NERC Cyber Standards: Ten Steps to Compliance – to help utilities navigate through the complex process of complying with new North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. Those standards are aimed at protecting the electric power grid from cyber attack. The report partitions the CIP compliance process into 10 manageable steps to help utilities to design a program that efficiently organizes utility personnel and resources. The report is 60 pages and costs $495. For more information on the report, or to order a copy, contact research@utc.org or call (202) 872-0030.

QuickTake: the report highlights the opportunities for vendors helping utilities comply with the NERC CIP standards and the tight timelines.

Crucial technologies for demand response. The 1st Edition of Research Reports International's "The Role of Enabling Technologies in Demand Response" documents the development of demand response (DR) programs. It also analyzes how new technology is needed to enable DR to make the transition from a small-scale pilot operation to a mass-market means of improving grid reliability. Additionally, the report discusses the key technologies needed to enable a large-scale demand response effort and evaluates current efforts to develop and integrate these technologies. Finally, the report provides profiles of leading vendors. The 105-page study costs approximately $440.
   QuickTake: State public utility commissions seem increasingly prone to mandate demand response strategies. Utilities should be reading this report.

   Research and Markets Web site

Grid Interop Forum. The GridWise Architecture Council is hosting the first Grid Interop Forum, to be held in Albuquerque, NM, November 7 – November 9, 2007.This forum is designed to hear the experts, collaborate and help determine the future architecture and design of an integrated, transactive electrical grid system.

Grid InterOP Web Site

Federal and state legislative update on demand response. The U.S. Demand Response Coordinating Committee will host a webinar about recent federal and state legislation on September 21, 2007, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EST).

Demand Response Update Webinar Registration