Texas Electric “All Hazards Grid Security” and “Bulk Power Equipment Protection” Filed
Today, I filed SB1606, along with 22 other Senators, and SB1488. These two important pieces of legislation begin the long overdue process of protecting the Texas electric grid against all threats, natural, and manmade.
While I have filed bills in previous sessions to protect against an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) (man-made threats) and geo-magnetic disturbances (natural threat), the failure of our electrical grid in February emphasized the need to protect our grid from all threats and hazards.
SB1606 will create the Texas Grid Security Commission (TGSC) under the direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to oversee the process by which the critical infrastructure of the power grid is identified, evaluated and hardened. This bill would also create standards by which a community could become a Five Star Resilient Community (a community fortified in at least five of the following areas: emergency services, communications systems, clean water and sewer systems, healthcare, financial services, energy resilience, and transportation), providing citizens reliable services in the event of a power outage and a path toward expeditious electrical and economic recovery. Watch my video update now!
Another bill, SB1488, will require the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to evaluate and ensure that components of our bulk power system are not sourced from foreign adversaries that pose an undue risk of sabotage or catastrophic failure. The PUC would then publish a list of equipment and vendors that have been pre-approved.
My friends, Representatives Matt Shaheen and Representative Steve Toth, have filed the companion bills, HB3792 and HB3716. Caught up with them for their thoughts below:
“It’s no longer a theory or a question, our grid is vulnerable. We were proud to have our own electric grid in Texas, until we learned that it was being influenced by outsiders who ignored the needs of Texans. We must have a secure grid, but right now our grid can’t even defend against winter weather. That’s why I am filing the Texas Grid Security Act to prevent ERCOT from repairing our grid with equipment manufactured by foreign adversaries. Risking electric outages because of faulty, counterfeit or spyware-embedded equipment is unacceptable,” stated Representative Steve Toth.
“Now more than ever, grid security is vital to the future of Texas. The legislature must ensure there is grid resilience and I’m ready to fight for this important initiative,” added Representative Shaheen.
The Legislature has had the chance to act in the past. After the 2011 winter storm there should have been a wake up call on the vulnerability of our grid. Ten years later we have experienced another winter storm that brought the state to a grinding halt, and caused unimaginable suffering. Electricity is the third most important thing to sustaining life today after only air and water, and many recently learned without electricity they couldn’t even get water. We cannot let another decade go past until the next disaster and question why the Legislature once again failed to act.