Black Sky
by Bonnie Biocchi, Executive Director
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a FEMA Region I Cybersecurity Workshop conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, CISA (Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security), and FEMA. The goal of the event was to explore a “Black Sky” event in which a catastrophic cyber attack left the entire East Coast, Toronto and Southern California without power. As you can imagine, it was a sobering discussion as government officials, academic partners, military, private sector, and other key stakeholders grappled with the magnitude and length of such an outage and how to respond to and recover from such an event.
During the plenary discussion, Eileen Decker, President of the Los Angeles Police Commission tried to put into context the deepening threat that cyber attacks hold over our nation. She revealed an astonishing fact that really drove home the severity of the problem. To quantify the threat, she told the audience that every day the city of Los Angeles responds to one billion (yes, billion) attempted hacks to their system.
Granted, the City of Los Angeles is a huge target. But smaller communities are ripe targets for opportunity which can then escalate to region wide events. The nature of the threats rank from simple unstructured threats (such as a disgruntled employee), to advanced structured threats (think viruses, worms, bots) to complex coordinated threats (i.e. extensive organization, multiple attack vectors). Coupled with foreign rogue actors, the nation’s grid is a prime target for all types of mayhem.
With that in mind, I would invite you to continually evaluate your cyber framework and strictly adhere to cyber hygiene. SCADA, ICS and Smart Grid Technology are areas to focus your attention as they are the most easily exploited. There are many tools available and the federal government is evaluating a national set of standards for reporting and threat monitoring to enable greater vigilance.
In May, the Army National Guard Defensive Cyberspace Operations Elements (DCOE) and other Army and Air National Guard Cyber Defenders are hosting Cyber Yankee 2020 to create a realistic cyber exercise in an effort to further train and apply their skills. They are interested in having four to six Public Power systems participate in the exercise. It is the largest exercise of its kind in the Northeast and will certainly enlighten you while providing a terrific format to build relationships and offer the public power input into solutions. If you are interested in possibly attending this event, please
let me know and I will connect you to the organizers of the event.
As always, be safe out there!
|
|
Upcoming Training & Events
|
|
**Registration Now Open!**
|
|
Year I:
Mar. 3 - 6; Sept. 22 - 25; Oct. 27 - 30
Year II:
Mar. 17 - 20; Sept. 29 - Oct. 2; Nov. 3 - 6
Year III:
Mar. 24 - 27; Oct. 6 - 9; Nov. 17 - 20
Year IV:
Feb. 25 - 28; Mar. 31 - Apr. 3; Oct. 20 - 23; Dec. 7 - 10
Apprentice Rodeo:
June 10 - 11, 2020
Apprentice Graduation:
Dec. 10, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
March 3, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Classroom Training: March 9 - 12, 2020
Field Training: TBA
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
March 17, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
March 17 - 20; April 7 - 10; April 28 - May 1; May 12 - 15
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
March 26, 2020
April 1; June 24; Sept 2; Dec 8
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
April 2; June 25; Sept 3; Dec 9
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
April 1, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Session III:
April 7 - 9, 2020
Session IV:
October 27 - 29, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
April 14 - 15, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
IT Roundtable*
April 14, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Credit & Collections Roundtable*
April 16, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
April 22 - 23, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
April 27 - 28, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
2020 E&O/Customer Service Conference *
May 18 - 19, 2020
Sheraton Framingham
Framingham, MA
General Foremen's Roundtable*
May 19, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
NEPPA Webinar Series: Coaching & Being Coached
May 28, 2020 -(Tentative)
Human Resources Roundtable*
June 17, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
July 28 - 30, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
** NEPPA Members use Group Code: NEPPA
|
|
2020 Advanced Lineworker Program *
Aug. 4 - 7; Aug. 25 - 28; Sept. 15 - 18; Sept. 29 - Oct. 2
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
2020 Annual Conference *
August 16 - 19, 2020
Stoweflake Resort
Stowe, VT
2020 Metering II Program *
August 25 - 27, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
NEPPA Webinar Series: Improving the Reliability of Your Distribution System
September 3
, 2020
2020 Substation II Program *
Sept. 15 - 18; Sept. 29 - Oct. 2; Oct. 20 - 23;
Nov. 3 - 6
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Engineering Roundtable*
October 6, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
General Foremen's Roundtable*
October 7, 2020 - (Tentative)
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Crew Leadership *
October 14 - 15, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Customer Service Leadership *
October 20, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Public Utility Accounting (APPA) *
November 3 - 4, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
NEPPA Webinar Series: Professional Networking
November 5, 2020
Work Order & Asset Management (APPA) *
November 5, 2020
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
POSTPONED UNTIL 2021
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
2021 Annual Conference *
August 22 - 25, 2021
Westin Portland Harborview
Portland, ME
|
|
Shining Star
We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Elise Braese, Director of Education & Programs of Northeast Public Power Association has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation from the
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.
To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialist professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. The CAE Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
We are delighted that Sarah has accomplished this significant achievement. While we have long known the tremendous value that Sarah’s work brings to NEPPA, it is gratifying to see her recognized on the National stage by ASAE. By earning this certification, Sarah joins a select group of Association Industry Professionals. Less than 4500 individuals from a pool of 48,000 association execs receive this designation. She is among the very best!
|
|
Pascoag Utility District, other utilities agree to share solar project’s output
|
PASCOAG, RI
— February 7, 2010 -
Rhode Island public power utility Pascoag Utility District and the state’s two other electric utilities have agreed to share the output of a solar energy project,...
|
|
|
|
|
Municipalities must register with alcohol, drug violation database
|
Washington, DC
- November 7, 2019 - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed an information clearinghouse to better ensure that drivers cannot conceal drug and alcohol violations by moving on to another job. There are no exemptions for municipalities.
|
|
Burlington Electric partners with auto dealers to ease EV rebates
|
Burlington, VT -
January 30, 2020 - In an effort to speed adoption of electric vehicles, Burlington Electric Department (BED) in Vermont has begun partnerships with local auto dealers in an effort to make it easier for customers to secure electric vehicle rebates.
|
|
|
|
|
New England AGs Call Out Power Grid Operator Over Anti-Competitive Practices
|
Holyoke, MA
- Januuary, 30, 2020 - Officials from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine say the operator of New England’s regional power grid is unfairly blocking competition.
|
|
|
|
Above: NEPPA Training Center, Littleton, MA
|
|
Northeast Public Power Association | communications@neppa.org | www.neppa.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
