DOE assembles team to tackle cybersecurity threats to power grid

Speaking of the Obama Administration’s cybersecurity efforts, the Energy Department is doing its bit by splashing out more than $8 million to fund something called the National Energy Sector Cyber Organization.

Apparently, this will be the country’s lead body in identifying the risks faced by the U.S. power grid, and will be tasked with coming up with ideas on how to secure emerging technologies such as the smart grid, which will use fiendishly clever IT to tie together everyone and everything that uses electric power.

The ultimate goal is to make power distribution more efficient, and therefore cheaper. Presumably that means I’ll at some point see a cut in my utility bill, though I’m not holding my breath.

If you want to see how this new public/private outfit fits with the broader strategy, check out DOE’s Roadmap to Secure Control Systems in the Energy Sector.

The DOE plans to issue the funding announcement sometime around March, so sharpen your pencils.

(P.S.: Hat tip to Layer 8.)