Pacific Gas & Electric substation attack, April 16, 2013

[merl]

Did they succeed? Can't recall ever hearing about this.

They killed those transformers and got away with it.
The big public release a couple months back was in hopes of generating a lead and I haven't heard anything further.

Was expensive to fix but it didn't shut off power. Hooray for redundancy.

[rondog]

Seems like I recall the last big blackout was caused by a tripped breaker at some power station, and it just snowballed? Odd that an attack on a power station like that didn't work. Our power grid is a disaster waiting to happen, from what I hear. Pretty friggin' scary when you think about it. I don't have no generator, never known anybody that did.

[Logan]

I wonder sometimes, given the alleged weakness of our power/water/SCADA systems, why these have not been attacked.

[kidicarus13]

I wonder sometimes, given the alleged weakness of our power/water/SCADA systems, why these have not been attacked.

By whom?

[Logan]

Islamic extremists, Luddites, all encompassing mentally deranged? I mean that anyone who intends an intelligent and coordinated attack, intent on inflicting massive collaterial damage. I am limited in my understanding, but given the apparent weaknessnes of these critical components of infrastrucure, why haven't these assets been targeted more actively?

[<MADDOG>]

I don't think our infrastructure is as vulnerable as you think (again, I say think)

Terrorists, foreign and domestic, go for the "bang for the buck" philosophy. IE: cause as many deaths as quickly as possible with minimal exposure. This act doesn't "fit" into the typical terrorist play based on methodology and history (IE: they wish to cause fear NOW, and not 10 days from now).

In regards to your fears about the water supply; I can assure you, any and all public water is tested extensively for shit you wouldn't imagine (including shit and storm water).

IMO, you suspicions might be right; but I highly doubt it...

[cableguy11]

Seems like I recall the last big blackout was caused by a tripped breaker at some power station, and it just snowballed? Odd that an attack on a power station like that didn't work. Our power grid is a disaster waiting to happen, from what I hear. Pretty friggin' scary when you think about it. I don't have no generator, never known anybody that did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Southwest_blackout last major blackout that I recall.

[KestrelBike]

Islamic extremists, Luddites, all encompassing mentally deranged? I mean that anyone who intends an intelligent and coordinated attack, intent on inflicting massive collaterial damage. I am limited in my understanding, but given the apparent weaknessnes of these critical components of infrastrucure, why haven't these assets been targeted more actively?

probably the same reason that buses in major US cities haven't been blown up. I don't know why, either. Blowing those up was a pretty effective method of terrorizing the populace in Israel, and really not even one attempt (that we know of) to do the same here in the US.

[rockhound]

the us gov't has published warnings just recently about a emp taking out the grid and that they are worried about it.

[merl]

the us gov't has published warnings just recently about a emp taking out the grid and that they are worried about it.

An EMP attack is fear mongering at its worst.

This substation attack showed that equipment can be damaged by a rifle (shocker) but beyond putting up visual screens there is little that can be done about it (that is cost effective given a single attack). It also showed that a single substation taken out does not kill the grid (of course, they do have to go offline for maintenance). It takes multiple stations, a coordinated attack (no lone wolves) to actually shut down power.