Security

A multistate power consortium has power-generation facilities in six New England states. These facilities include nuclear- and hydroelectric-generation plants, two windmill farms on remote mountain ridgelines, a collection of cogeneration facilities, an experimental solar array, power delivery substations, grid-monitoring locations, and two network management centers for the optical fiber that resides within the hollow core of the aluminum power cables. Needless to say, security is a serious concern on many levels. At the most fundamental level, the company must ensure uninterrupted service for its hundreds of thousands of customers. Similarly, the company must be vigilant for signs of sabotage. Here is the challenge: how can the company s security organization closely watch not only the large, easily accessible power plants, but also the remote, high-tension towers and research facilities? They do not have enough personnel to physically inspect every facility on a continual basis, and even though they have a rapid response agreement with local...