Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

The recent leak of an internal memo to the former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which was widely reported by national news media, has created a national security setback for the United States. Many are concerned that the disclosure may provide terrorists and other bad actors a roadmap for causing a prolonged nationwide blackout. Perhaps more importantly, the leak undermines the relationship of trust between industry and government agencies that the parties have been working for years to establish; a relationship that is vital to developing a stronger security posture for the electrical grid and in other critical infrastructure sectors. In an article published in Intelligent Utility Update, Hunton & Williams partner Paul M. Tiao discusses the effects of the leak on national security and on the relationship between the energy industry and the government.