Inspector Questions FERC’s Release of “Sensitive” Information

Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair Jon Wellinghoff shared sensitive, non-public information about the vulnerability of the power grid to attacks without having it formally reviewed for possible classification, the Department of Energy’s Inspector General found in a report issued Feb. 4.

The Inspector General found that Wellinghoff in 2013 authorized federal commission staff to treat the information as critical energy infrastructure, requiring them to get those who it was shared with to sign non-disclosure agreements.

However, Wellinghoff and other commission officials did not seek formal review of the information for possibly being designated as classified, which requires those who have access to it to receive federal security clearances.

The information was shared with other federal officials and officials in the power industry, according to the report. In his defense, the Inspector General found that Wellinghoff and other commission staff were sharing the information in order to prompt industry and federal officials to fix security deficiencies in the grid.

Some lawmakers, though, questioned the wisdom of sharing the information.

“The security of our nation’s electric grid is a serious concern and the release of public documents detailing security issues is alarming,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chair of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee.

However, the Inspector General pointed out that upon review, the Department of Homeland Security found the shared information was “sensitive but unclassified.”

The information consisted of a commission analysis of grid vulnerabilities that identified how the nation’s bulk power transmission system could be shut down by attacking strategic substations and facilities.