The bulk electric system (BES), more commonly referred to as The Grid, is the baseline infrastructure for the eighteen critical infrastructure sectors identified under Homeland Security Presidential Directive #7 (HSPD-7). The remaining sectors cannot function without electricity. The backbone of The Grid is a complex network of electric transmission substations. Tens of thousands are scattered throughout the country. They connect your local power company to the sources of electric generation (nuclear, coal, hydro, or natural gas) throughout the nation. The majority of these substations are in remote areas. Most of them are unmanned. All of them are vulnerable. In addition to this risk, electric transmission substations are under constant assault by metal thieves scouring the countryside for copper.
Eighty-five percent of The Grid is owned and operated by the private sector. Security of these critical assets are the responsibility of their owners. Some companies are taking this responsibility seriously. Some are not. In this presentation Jim Miller, Manager of Corporate Security at NiSource Corporation, will demonstrate how they are using thermal security cameras, armed with sophisticated video analytics, to provide a 24/7 virtual perimeter around these key assets. This cutting-edge technology has put a spotlight on perpetrators attempting to enter these key substations. . Coupled with real-time, event driven monitoring, thermal cameras have greatly reduced our exposure to this risk. Copper theft at our facilities is down greatly compared to industrial peers in our service territory.
Learn how you can use this experience to stop copper theft and enhance security at your key facilities while saving money over competing physical security measures, and improving your system's reliability.