DOE releases results of energy cybersecurity emergency exercise

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released the findings and recommendations from Liberty Eclipse, a multi-state cyber-energy preparedness exercise hosted by DOE and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) in December 2016.

The exercise simulated a cyber attack on the energy infrastructure, including electricity, gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil, and other energy services, of several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. It brought together officials from State Energy Offices, Public Utility Commissions, State Emergency Management Agencies, private sector energy supply owners and operators, DOE and other federal agency representatives and critical energy infrastructure stakeholders.

“The results of this exercise reaffirm the importance of energy emergency mitigation and response planning,” David Terry, executive director of NASEO, said. “This type of planning enhances states’ capacity to respond to energy supply disruptions, facilitates sharing of best practices, and aides in identifying ways to mitigate risks in the future.”

Liberty Eclipse was developed in response to direction from Congress under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). The FAST Act calls for increased coordination among DOE, states and the oil and gas industry to develop energy assurance and emergency plans, training, and exercises.

In order to develop energy emergency response plans, states use U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) funds at the direction of their governors. State Energy Offices and their partners then engage with experts from DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability and the private sector to support Emergency Support Function #12, the federal emergency support function for energy, through programs such as the Liberty Eclipse Exercise.