Memorandum in Support - S.5579-A (Parker) similar to A.3904 (Cusick)
S.5579-A (Parker) similar to A.3904 (Cusick) - AN ACT to amend the energy law, the executive law and the public service law, in relation to critical energy infrastructure
security and responsibility
The Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY) is a trade association
representing companies involved in the development of electric generating facilities, the
generation, sale, and marketing of electric power, and the development of natural gas facilities
in the State of New York. IPPNY Member companies produce the majority of New York's
electricity, utilizing hydro, nuclear, wind, natural gas, solar, energy storage, biomass, oil, and waste-to-energy.
IPPNY supports S.5579-A (Parker) similar to A.3904 (Cusick). This legislation would
enhance protection of critical infrastructure, such as power plants, from cyberattacks. Among
other provisions, the bill would amend existing law on the power and duties of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and it would add cyberattacks to the list of parameters for which an assessment of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure (including, but not limited to, power plants and now, under the legislation, industrial control systems) would be done and for which protective strategies would be developed.
This legislation builds upon New York State's existing efforts to protect critical energy
infrastructure. Existing programs involve the sharing of information and best practices with
owners and operators of New York's energy infrastructure, as well as the monitoring of threats
and risk scenarios. The bill is consistent with existing North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection Plan cyber security standards. These standards apply to balancing authorities, generator operators, reliability coordinators, transmission operators and transmission owners that own or operate a control center.
For the reasons stated above, IPPNY supports S.5579-A (Parker) similar to A.3904
(Cusick).
